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Afghan spy chief resigns after rows with president Afghan spy chief resigns after rows with president
(about 1 hour later)
The head of Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency has resigned over disagreements with the president, Ashraf Ghani, laying bare divisions that have hindered efforts to fight the growing Taliban insurgency.The head of Afghanistan’s main intelligence agency has resigned over disagreements with the president, Ashraf Ghani, laying bare divisions that have hindered efforts to fight the growing Taliban insurgency.
The resignation of Rahmatullah Nabil follows a series of setbacks in recent months including the fall of the northern city of Kunduz to the Taliban and an insurgent raid on Kandahar airport in the south on Tuesday in which 50 civilians, police and security personnel were killed.The resignation of Rahmatullah Nabil follows a series of setbacks in recent months including the fall of the northern city of Kunduz to the Taliban and an insurgent raid on Kandahar airport in the south on Tuesday in which 50 civilians, police and security personnel were killed.
Already without a permanent defence minister due to conflicts within Ghani’s national unity government, the country now has no spy chief just as the Kandahar raid underlined the Taliban’s ability to inflict serious damage on its forces.Already without a permanent defence minister due to conflicts within Ghani’s national unity government, the country now has no spy chief just as the Kandahar raid underlined the Taliban’s ability to inflict serious damage on its forces.
Nabil, who strongly opposed Ghani’s moves towards a rapprochement with Pakistan, said in his letter of resignation from the National Directorate of Security (NDS) that there had been “a lack of agreement on some policy matters” in recent months.Nabil, who strongly opposed Ghani’s moves towards a rapprochement with Pakistan, said in his letter of resignation from the National Directorate of Security (NDS) that there had been “a lack of agreement on some policy matters” in recent months.
He said the president had imposed unacceptable conditions on the way he did his job, with “repeated verbal summons” that put him under impossible pressure.He said the president had imposed unacceptable conditions on the way he did his job, with “repeated verbal summons” that put him under impossible pressure.
Relations between Ghani and the NDS had been strained since at least the fall of Kunduz, which caught security forces badly unprepared and which an inquiry last month blamed on poor leadership.Relations between Ghani and the NDS had been strained since at least the fall of Kunduz, which caught security forces badly unprepared and which an inquiry last month blamed on poor leadership.
Later, Ghani dismissed some NDS officials, including the provincial chief of the agency, who he said had neglected their duty to defend Kunduz. The Taliban held the city for several days before government troops regained control. Ghani issued a statement on Thursday saying he had not wanted Nabil to resign because of the difficult security situation but he respected the decision. An interim replacement would be named soon, he said. Related: However long it lasts, Taliban capture of Kunduz is a major blow to Afghan government
Later, Ghani dismissed some NDS officials, including the agency’s provincial chief, who he said had neglected their duty to defend Kunduz. The Taliban held the city for several days before government troops regained control.
Ghani issued a statement on Thursday saying he had not wanted Nabil to resign because of the difficult security situation but he respected the decision. An interim replacement would be named soon, he said.
The resignation raises fresh questions over the leadership of Afghanistan’s security apparatus, which has struggled to contain a Taliban insurgency that has gained momentum since international forces ended most combat operations last year.The resignation raises fresh questions over the leadership of Afghanistan’s security apparatus, which has struggled to contain a Taliban insurgency that has gained momentum since international forces ended most combat operations last year.
It also clouds prospects for a coordinated effort to resume peace talks including both the Taliban and Pakistan that were broken off this year. Ghani attended a Heart of Asia peace conference in Islamabad on Wednesday. It also clouds prospects for a coordinated effort to resume peace talks including both the Taliban and Pakistan which were broken off this year. Ghani attended a Heart of Asia peace conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The president’s official Facebook page, which announced the resignation, was immediately flooded with hundreds of angry comments, most of them abusing the government.The president’s official Facebook page, which announced the resignation, was immediately flooded with hundreds of angry comments, most of them abusing the government.
“Shame on the presidential palace, Nabil resigned because he was anti-Taliban and anti-Pakistan,” wrote one user in a comment typical of many others.“Shame on the presidential palace, Nabil resigned because he was anti-Taliban and anti-Pakistan,” wrote one user in a comment typical of many others.
The Taliban said the Kandahar operation had succeeded in “humiliating” the government “by sending a message that the mujahideen are able to reach the most secure enemy locations undetected”.The Taliban said the Kandahar operation had succeeded in “humiliating” the government “by sending a message that the mujahideen are able to reach the most secure enemy locations undetected”.
In an angrily worded post on Facebook that appeared before the resignation letter was made public, Nabil made clear his frustration with efforts to work with Pakistan, which many in Afghanistan accuse of controlling the Taliban. He said the blood of innocent people spilled in recent attacks was “the same colour as the red carpet we trod like a catwalk”.In an angrily worded post on Facebook that appeared before the resignation letter was made public, Nabil made clear his frustration with efforts to work with Pakistan, which many in Afghanistan accuse of controlling the Taliban. He said the blood of innocent people spilled in recent attacks was “the same colour as the red carpet we trod like a catwalk”.