KABUL - President Ashraf Ghani on Monday accepted resignations of defence minister and army chief after the Balkh carnage at the hands of Taliban, his office said.
The decision came at a high-level security meeting chaired President Ghani and attended by Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah, National Security Advisor (NSA) Mohammad Hanif Atmar and the outgoing defence minister and army chief.
The security situation of the country was discussed and options for the development and empowerment of security forces were explored at the meeting, statement from the Presidential Palace said.
Defence Minister Abdullah Habib and Army Chief Gen. Qadam Shah Shahim tendered their resignations, thanking the leadership of the unity government for their support. They, however, offered to serve the government in the future in case of need.
The president hailed the services of the defence minister and the army chief, calling loyal sons of the soil. The president said qualified and deserving individuals would be appointed as their replacements soon.
But a reliable source in the unity government confided Pajhwok Afghan News that defence minister and the army chief had stood down over the deadly attack on army corps in Balkh province. He said commanders of the corps had also been dismissed. (Pajhwok)