Two key Afghan ministers sacked

Kabul, Aug. 4: The Afghan Parliament on Saturday voted to dismiss two top security ministers at a critical time amid tensions with Pakistan and increasing insurgent attacks as Nato prepares to withdraw its troops.

The move obliges President Hamid Karzai to replace defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, who has strong support among Afghanistan’s Western allies, and interior minister Bismillah Mohammadi.

The lawmakers charged that they had failed in their handling of cross-border shelling barrages blamed on neighbouring Pakistan and other security issues in a country facing an insurgency by hardline Taliban Islamists.

In a brief statement after the vote, Mr Karzai’s office acknowledged that parliament had the right to disqualify ministers and said he would react after a national security council meeting on Sunday.

The men are expected to continue serving in an acting capacity until the president introduces replace- ments.

“General Abdul Rahim Wardak will continue serving in the ministry as the acting defence minister until a new minster is introduced by the president,” defence ministry spokesman General Zaher Azimi said.

The two ministers were summoned to appear on Saturday before the Wolesi Jirga, or Lower House of Parliament, to defend their handling of the cross-border shelling and the overall security situation in the country.

Late last month more than 300 heavy artillery shells and rockets were fired from Pakistan into Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province, killing at least four people, Afghan officials said.

It was the latest in a series of barrages and led Mr Karzai’s government to warn Pakistan that any further cross-border shelling could significantly harm relations between the two strife-torn neighbours.

Pakistan denied the accusation.

— AFP