Documents show that the Ministry of Defense had requested President Ashraf Ghani award higher ranks to 39 high-ranking officers from the ministry. But the request was rejected twice by the president and the team working on it. 

However, a final decision has been taken and 23 officers were promoted and each given a three-month salary bonus. Documents show that 19 of the officers are from one ethnic group, and four others are from two other ethnic groups.

This has sparked reaction and the move has been deemed discriminatory.  

The officers promoted include generals and colonels.

In this episode of Farakhabar, host Massoud Malik discusses the topic with the following guests:

• Ahmad Saeedi, a political activist 

• Abdul Wakil Ehsas, an official from defense ministry