Pompeo Calls Ghani “One of Afghanistan’s Most Corrupt Leaders”

DID Press: Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sharply criticized former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, describing him as one of the most corrupt leaders in the country’s modern history.

Speaking at an academic event at the University of New Hampshire, Pompeo said Ghani lacked the will to meaningfully address Afghanistan’s crisis and, in practice, was content with maintaining the status quo.

He argued that widespread corruption and weak strategic decision-making within Ghani’s administration posed major challenges for the United States during its engagement in Afghanistan.

Pompeo further stated that these issues significantly hindered progress in security and economic development and deepened the country’s long-running instability.

He also criticized Ghani’s governance style, saying the former president showed little commitment to structural reforms and effectively accepted systemic dysfunction. According to Pompeo, this reflected broader difficulties Washington has faced when working with ineffective leadership in fragile states.