Ghani performs Umrah in first trip outside UAE

KABUL (Pajhwok): Former president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has performed Umrah in Saudi Arabia in his first trip outside the United Arab Emirates since his government collapsed in 2021.

Ghani traveled to the UAE after his government in Kabul collapsed in 2021 and he has since been living there.

Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwari shared a video which shows Ghani performing umrah in Saudi Arabia. Sarwari wrote that he was in Riyadh.

Ghani’s brother Hashmat Ghani Ahmadzai also confirmed that his brother had traveled to Saudi Arabia and performed umrah.

Hashmat Ghani told Pajhwok Afghan News about the video and Ghani’s trip: "Yes brother, this is correct... it is his new video, ... he is also there, his security team is also there. Sir, the video is correct. He is still in Saudi Arabia, he went for Umrah and nothing else..”

It was Ghani’s first foreign visit from the UAE after the fall of his administration.

sa/ma