John Sopko, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, says SIGAR is investigating allegations that former Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani left the country with millions of dollars in cash.
Mr Sopko said in an exclusive interview with VOA that he had also discussed the allegations with former Afghan officials and that the results would be presented to the US Congress in March this year.
A number of media outlets, including Russia’s state-run news agency, reported that Ashraf Ghani had taken “$169 million” in cash when he was released from the Afghan presidential palace, a claim that was also made by Afghanistan’s ambassador to Tajikistan, has confirmed.
Mr. Ghani, who had previously denied the allegations in a video message and called for an independent inquiry, told the BBC: “I have not taken any money out of the country … not only that. I welcome the inquiry by Mr. Sopko and I would like to have another inquiry … I am glad to have the necessary inquiry from me, one of which is that it is a means of measuring lies. It can also be used or in any other form as needed.”
The US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said SIGAR has received numerous reports of corruption by a number of Afghan officials.
Mr Sopko did not confirm or deny meeting with the former Afghan president’s national security adviser, Hamdullah Mohib, but said he had known Mr Mohib for a long time, but did not want Mr Ghani and his associates to agree. Shared details before the final report of the investigation results on the allegations of money laundering by the media was published in March or April.
In an interview with VOA, Mr. Sopko expressed concern about the weapons that the United States provided to Afghanistan’s former armed forces, which are now in Taliban hands.
John Sopko said he had received reports that Taliban officials were selling some of the US military equipment given to the Afghan army on international arms markets.
There have also been recent reports that such weapons have fallen into the hands of the Pakistani Taliban.
