KABUL  - Afghanistan’s outgoing defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak abruptly resigned on Tuesday after parliament demanded his ouster but President Hamid Karzai kept him on in an acting capacity.
The move by Wardak, who has strong support among Afghanistan’s Western allies, comes at a critical time as NATO prepares to pull its troops out in 2014 and hand responsibility for the fight against Taliban insurgents to local forces.
“In accordance with the decision of parliament as the highest legislative body, and with permission of the presidency, I declare my position as defence minister finished,” Wardak told a news conference. Karzai on Sunday accepted a decision by parliament to dismiss Wardak and Interior Minister Bismillah Mohammadi - his two top security ministers - but asked them to continue temporarily until they could be replaced. He said he would offer them other posts within government, without giving details.
Parliament’s vote of no confidence on Saturday came amid tensions with neighbouring Pakistan and increasing insurgent attacks.
The lawmakers said the ministers had failed in their handling of cross-border shelling barrages blamed on Pakistan and other security issues in a country facing an insurgency by hardline militants.
After similar moves against other ministers in the past, Karzai has sometimes kept them serving in an acting capacity for several months.