KABUL – Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday asked his securitycabinet to step down, sources have confirmed.

This includes the minister of defense Tariq Shah Bahrami, minister ofinterior Wais Barmak, National Directorate of Security chief MassoomStanikzai and National Security Advisor Hanif Atmar.

According to sources, the reasons given by Ghani for the resignationsinclude this week’s rocket attack on the Presidential Palace, the recentGhazni attack and the increasing ANDSF casualty toll.