Atmar resigns as Mohib appointed new NSA

National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar resigned from his post on Saturday, Haroon Chakhansori, a spokesman to the president confirmed. In a short statement on his verified face book page Chakhansori said Atmar offered his resignation letter to President Ashraf Ghani and the president approved his decision.
He added that former Afghan ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib had been appointed as new National Security Advisor (NSA).
Atmar in his resignation letter circulating on social media stated that he was stepping down due to “serious differences over policies and approaches at the top level of government.”
He said he differed in opinion “when it comes to national unity, national consensus, peace and security political management, electoral affairs, good governance and regional affairs.”
Atmar also stated that “because of my differences of these things in recent months I am stepping down since we failed to reach any consensus.”
In the meantime, reports suggest that president Ghani called for reshuffle of entire security cabinet. Citing government sources, Tolonews reported that president Ghani asked all top security brasses to step down from their positions.
This includes the minister of defense Tariq Shah Bahrami, minister of interior Wais Barmak, National Directorate of Security chief Massoom Stanikzai and National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar.
According to sources, the reasons given by Ghani for the resignations include this week’s rocket attack on the Presidential Palace, the recent Ghazni attack and the increasing ANDSF casualty toll.
This comes after recent spate of violence in country, especially fall of Ghazni and rocket attack on presidential palace on the Eid day.
Atmar has been a close aide to President Ashraf Ghani since 2014.
He was also interior minister during former president Hamid Karzai’s tenure until 2010.