Small Wars Journal

Afghanistan's Top Security Officials Resign

Sun, 08/26/2018 - 12:33am

Afghanistan's Top Security Officials Resign - Deutsche Welle

Two senior security officials and the ministers of defense and interior have resigned over disagreements on a range of policy issues. The resignations will not help Afghanistan's rapidly deteriorating security situation.

The government of Afghanistan has confirmed the resignation of four top security officials including Hanif Atmar, national security adviser for President Ashraf Ghani and a close ally.

Atmar, one of the country's most powerful politicians, cited "serious differences" with Ghani as the reason for his resignation.

Atmar has been a mainstay in Afghanistan politics since the late 1980s, when he began his security career under the Soviet Union-backed government. He served as interior minister under former President Hamid Karzai and had been the country's top security official under Ghani since 2014.

Afghan local TV station Tolo News reported Saturday that Atmar's resignation was a result of his disagreements with the government on issues such as national unity, peace and security, as well as regional and international relations.

In a statement from the presidential palace, the government confirmed that Atmar will be replaced by Hamdullah Mohib, who currently serves as Afghanistan's ambassador to the US…

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