KABUL - Afghan Minister of Defense Abdul Rahim Wardak has left his position after being dismissed by Parliament on Saturday for a weak response to cross-border shelling and recent assassination attempts. his nine years service in the office
Speaking in a briefing at the Ministry of Defense Wardak praised the Afghanistan National Army's dedication to the country.

"As a citizen who believes in democracy, I respect the decision the made by parliament. I leave the judgment to the people of Afghanistan about my dismissal and...with the permission of the Afghan president, I end my job as the Defense Minister," Wardak told reporters and his colleagues at the Ministry of Defense.

He emphasized that he has served his country honestly and worked to establish a strong army for Afghanistan to fulfill the needs of the Afghan people.

Abdul Rahim Wardak and Bismillah Mohammadi were summoned to the parliament on Saturday to respond the escalation of insecurity in the country and Pakistan's cross-border rocket attacks into Afghanistan.
On Sunday, the Security Council had decided to allow the ministers to continue until replacements were sworn in. (Tolo News)