Following President Ashraf Ghani’s decision to accept Atta Mohammad Noor’s resignation as Balkh governor, senior police officials from Balkh and Kandahar announced their support to Noor and said he should remain in his position.

In response to a query about the remarks by police officials, Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak said police “must not be involved in politics”.

“They (senior police officials in Balkh and Kandahar) did a mistake by announcing their stances (on Noor’s issue). Police should remain impartial and independent,” Barmak said in an interview with TOLOnews.

Meanwhile, a number of Kabul residents on Friday criticized the security officials over supporting Atta Mohammad Noor, saying that the issue should be addressed through negotiations.

“We are in a bad situation. We need peace and consensus instead of disagreements,” a Kabul resident, Ahmad, said.

“Anyone who has served their best must serve in government. Government officials should not take stance against each other,” Sulaiman, a resident of Kabul said.

Heads of Kandahar and Zabul provincial councils meanwhile said the issue must be resolved through talks.

“They (Ghani and Noor) should not provide the ground for crisis and war in Afghanistan and they should not be allowed to do so,” said Sayed Jan Khakrezwal, head of Kandahar Provincial Council.

“The issue that has been raised between government and Jamiat-e-Islami party should be resolved through negotiations and Jirga (assembly),” head of Zabul Provincial Council.

This comes after police officials from Balkh and Kandahar provinces announced their support to Noor, insisting that he should remain as governor of Balkh.

“Balkh is the only province where there is partial security and where the business community has investment trust; refugees go there, may Allah keep this province secure and safe so that problems are not created for the people,” Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq said on Thursday.

“The first person that will stand and sacrifice his life (in side of Noor) is me,” Abdul Razaq Qaderi, security officer at Balkh police chief's office said at a gathering this week.  

“We stand by your (Noor) side until the last drop of our blood,” Hasibullah Quraishi, commander of Afghan Public Protection Forces in north of the country said this week.