Afghanistan’s Parliament rejected a second nominee for Defence Minister on Saturday, leaving a vacuum that has already lasted nine months, while government forces battled the Taliban just 50 km west of the capital Kabul.
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani’s failure to nominate a full cabinet since he took office in September has sown great discontent among Afghans and Saturday's vote was seen as a test of his government's influence over parliament.
Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai received 84 out of the 107 votes required to get the defence ministry post. A total 231 votes were cast.
Mr. Stanekzai, the former peace representative, was nominated as acting Minister at the end of May and had taken charge of the Army at a time when most foreign troops have departed and the Taliban are gaining territory.
