Afghanistan's new Interior Minister has dismissed eight top security officials amid growing insecurity in the western province of Herat. Regional police spokesman Abdol Raoof Ahmadi said the officials were dismissed due to negligence, but denied reports that they were involved in the ongoing insecurity in the province, Press TV correspondent in Kabul reported. He added that the Interior Ministry had dismissed the officials in order to replace them with those who would better handle the situation. Abdol Raoof Ahmadi also said that more changes in the higher ranks were likely to happen. The deputies of the dismissed officials will reportedly carry out the duties for the time being. The officials were informed of the decision on Monday and were due in the capital, Kabul, on Tuesday.
The sudden decision came after Herat's representatives in the Afghan parliament along with several other groups went on strike over the deteriorating security situation in Herat province. Pro-Taliban militants recently kidnapped five Afghan guards after attacking their station in Selma Dam in the province of Herat. In his vote of confidence session, the Interior Minister Haneef Atmar had vowed to stop instability in the region at any cost.