Afghan interior minister offers resignation amid worsening insecurity: Sources

Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Noor-ul-Haq Olomi has offered his resignation amid growing criticism over the deteriorating security situation in the war-wracked country.

According to government and diplomatic sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Olomi tendered his resignation to President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday.

The sources said the resignation has not been accepted by Ghani yet as he is still looking for a replacement.

Asked whether the interior minister had offered his resignation, Ghani's Deputy Spokesman Sayed Zafar Hashemi said that bringing “reform” to government entities, including the ministry of the interior, “to increase efficiency has been a government priority.”

Afghan news agency Khaama Press quoted sources as saying that Olomi resigned from his post after his appointment of deputy interior minister was rejected by Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah.

The Spokesman for the Interior Ministry Sediq Sediqi, however, dismissed the reports on Olomi’s resignation.

ME