General Murad Ali Murad was formally introduced as the new commander of Kabul Garrison Command on Saturday – after having been dismissed as deputy interior minister for security last month.

Defense Minister Gen. Tariq Shah Bahrami made the announcement at an event in Kabul on Saturday morning. 

According to Bahrami, Murad has been appointed as the new commander of Kabul Garrison Command and as deputy defense minister for the security affairs of Kabul.

Speaking at his farewell ceremony last month at the ministry of interior, Murad said he was concernment about the state of the police forces. 

He said they were under-equipped and “in a bad way” – citing a lack of food as another problem. 

“Our police forces are deprived and in a bad situation and no one (official) deserves to receive rewards and they do not have the right to say I did this. Afghan police are in the worst situation today,” said Murad. 

Murad takes over from acting commander Gen. Afzal Aman, who has led the garrison for the past year. 

Aman took over after former Kabul garrison command chief Gul Nabi Ahmadzai was suspended on June 11 over the deteriorating security situation in Kabul – more specifically the deadly truck bombing in the diplomatic zone that killed over 150 people.