Ajmal Ahmady: The Afghan central bank governor who fled the Taliban

Aug 18, 2021

Ajmal Ahmady: The Afghan central bank governor who fled the Taliban

Ajmal Ahmady had been the central bank governor in Afghanistan before fleeing the Taliban on Sunday. UN PHOTO/VIOLAINE MARTIN

Today on the program we hear from Ajmal Ahmady, the Afghan central bank governor caught up in the chaos of Kabul airport as he fled the country. He tells us how corruption aided the Taliban's return to power, why he hoped American troops would have stayed, and his fears now for the country's economy.

Segments From this episode

Head of Afghan central bank warns of further economic collapse under Taliban

by Victoria Craig

Aug 18, 2021

Ajmal Ahmady, whose dramatic exit from the country was described in viral tweets, says inflation and poverty will likely rise.

Neat piles of Afghan currency are shown at the central bank in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2002.

Chris Hondros via Getty Images

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The team

David Brancaccio Host

Victoria Craig Host, BBC

Stephen Ryan Senior Producer, BBC

Jonathan Frewin Producer, BBC

Daniel Shin Producer

Jay Siebold Technical Director

Brian Allison Engineer

Meredith Garretson Morbey Senior Producer

Erika Soderstrom Producer

Rose Conlon Producer

Alex Schroeder Producer

Redmond Carolipio Digital Producer

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