KABUL - Gen. Afzal Ludin was nominated as minister of defense on Monday and will soon be introduced to Parliament for a vote of confidence, said presidential spokesman Ajmal Obaid Abidi.

The Presidential Palace said in a statement that President Ashraf Ghani has announced Gen. Afzal Ludin as the minister of defense. They said that "he will soon be introduced to Parliament officially."

Gen. Ludin is a professional military cadre in the country and has held numerous posts within the Ministry of Defense. His last position was as military advisor in the National Security Council office.

This move comes after President Ashraf Ghani introduced 16 new cabinet nominees to Parliament for the confidence vote.

Three parliamentary commissions have begun assessing the nomination documents of the 16 cabinet nominees and they are expected to finish this week.

Once that has been done, the voting process will start, said Parliament officials. (Tolonews)