Hamdullah Mohib takes over as new NSA

President Ashraf Ghani officially introduced Hamdullah Mohib as the new national security advisor on Sunday morning, the Presidential Palace said in a statement.
Mohib replaces Mohammad Hanif Atmar who resigned unexpectedly on Saturday. Mohib was ambassador to the US.
High-ranking officials, including the Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami and Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak, attended the ceremony, the statement read.
Addressing the officials present, Ghani mentioned Atmar and said he has ordered the security sector to ensure all security measures remain in place for him.
“Accepting the resignation of a long-term friend and co-worker was a difficult decision for me, but this decision should be taken for the benefit of the country,” Ghani said.
Ghani also thanked Atmar for his efforts and said the country needs him, and that his expertise will still be used in the country.
“I have instructed the security sector to keep in place all security measures and Hanif Atmar’s personal security measures in place. Now, our goal is to focus on the future,” Ghani added.
The president also thanked Mohib for his hard work during his time as Afghanistan’s ambassador to Washington DC and wished him success in his position as new National Security Advisor (NSA) for the National Unity Government.
Mohib in turn thanked Ghani for trusting him and handing over the responsibility to him; pledging to carry out his duties to his best ability.
Mohib also thanked Atmar for his efforts and said he would continue to consult with him and he assured the NSA’s staff that department functions would continue as normal and that with their cooperation they would strengthen the institution’s affairs.
Mohib, who is 35 years old, has been ambassador to Washington DC since 2015.
Originally from Nangarhar province, Mohib studied in the UK and earned a degree in computer systems engineering. He also has British citizenship.
After seven years in the UK, Mohib returned to Afghanistan, as director of information technology at the American University of Afghanistan.
During the 2009 Afghan presidential elections, Mohib was one of Ghani’s campaign aides. When Ghani lost the race to former president Hamid Karzai, Mohib returned to the UK to study for his Ph.D., at Brunel University.
In 2014 he graduated with a Ph.D and again returned to work on Ghani’s 2014 election campaign.
This time around Ghani won the elections and when he was sworn into office, Mohib was appointed as his deputy chief of staff. One year later, Ghani appointed him as Afghanistan’s ambassador to the United States.