*KABUL – Afghanistan’s national security adviser, one of the mostinfluential aides to President Ashraf Ghani, resigned on Saturday, a moveone official said could be followed by his own bid for the top job in nextyear’s scheduled election.*

Hanif Atmar’s resignation was accepted by Ghani, presidential spokesmanHaroon Chakhansuri said.

The spokesman gave no official reason for the abrupt departure, but a copyof Atmar’s resignation letter obtained by Reuters said he had developed“serious differences over policies and principles with governmentleadership”.

A senior government official close to Atmar, who spoke on condition thathis name was not used, said the former security adviser was consideringrunning against Ghani in the 2019 vote.

“He has resigned because he is preparing to run for presidential electionnext year,” said the official.

Atmar, 49, has been considered the second-most powerful official inAfghanistan since he became national security adviser after Ghani was swornin as president in late 2014.