Government sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said President Ashraf Ghani asked his security chiefs to step down on Saturday, but then backtracked on his decision Sunday morning.

In addition, sources from the office of Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah told TOLOnews that Abdullah had had a different opinion regarding the issue.

Following Saturday’s sudden resignation of Afghanistan’s National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar,  Ghani reportedly sent a message to the Minister of Defense Tariq Shah Bahrami, Minister of Interoir Wais Ahmad Barmak and head of National Directorate of Security (NDS) Masoom Stanekzai to step down from their posts. 

But on Sunday morning, Ghani refused to accept their resignations.

“Any positive change and reshuffling can create new motivation and this will send a message to the security forces that government is pursuing better management and leadership of the war,” said political commentator Haroon Mir.

But Fazel Fazly, chief advisor to the president tweeted that the changes came following failures in the security sector.

“Changes in the security leadership are to address continued failures in this sector,” Fazly tweeted. 

Some people however questioned Ghani’s abilities. 

“Internal issues are serious, we witness on a daily basis what is going on in the security sector, Mr. Ashraf Ghani has completely failed in his five year rule,” said Ahmad Wali Massoud, Chairman if the Massoud Foundation.

Questions meanwhile have also been raised over what impact would a move to involve security chiefs in political issues have on security forces who are fighting insurgents in at least ten provinces across the country. 

“Sincerity and patriotism have been badly damaged and they can not remain committed to the people of Afghanistan, because they are thinking about resigning,” said military analyst Jawed Kohistani.

This latest development comes after a string of attacks including the siege of Ghazni by the Taliban, last week’s rocket attack on the presidential palace and the spike in casualties among Afghan security forces.