KABUL, Afghanistan — A former Afghan official has accused President Ashraf Ghani’s administration of engaging in widespread corruption, including the exchange of sexual favors for government posts, adding to a string of recent setbacks for the government. The corruption claims exploded on social media after they were backed up on Saturday night by Mariam Wardak, a former consultant to Mr. Ghani’s former national security adviser. During an interview with an Indian news channel, World Is One News, Ms. Wardak echoed General Ahmadzai’s accusations, saying, “This issues he brought up and highlighted reflect reality.”Previous governments in the country, long torn by war, have also been accused of corruption. For decades, tens of millions of dollars — often as cash packed into suitcases, backpacks and plastic shopping bags — flowed from the C.I.A. to the office of President Hamid Karzai, according to current and former advisers to the Afghan leader.

Source: New York Times May 26, 2019 14:15 UTC