Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he had to leave Kabul to prevent bloodshed, and denied allegations that he took large sums of money when leaving the presidential palace.
This came in a video clip that Ghani broadcast on Facebook, hours after he announced his presence with members of his family in the United Arab Emirates.
And former Afghan ministers strongly criticized Ghani for leaving the country suddenly as Taliban forces entered the Afghan capital last Sunday.
But Ghani defended his departure, saying, "If I had stayed, I would have witnessed the bloodshed in Kabul."
He added that he left on the advice of government officials.
The UAE had confirmed - earlier today, Wednesday - that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is in it after leaving his country with the Taliban fighters taking control of Afghanistan.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said - in a statement - that "the UAE has received President Ashraf Ghani and his family in the country for humanitarian considerations."
Afghan sources reported that Ashraf Ghani and his defense minister settled with members of their families in the UAE.
A government source told Al Jazeera that the Afghan Defense Minister, General Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and two of his sons had taken refuge in Dubai in the UAE.