Abdullah Abdullah, head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, in a statement, opposed the decision to remove interior minister Massoud Andarabi and said the move is in contravention of the political agreement signed with President Ghani.

Abdullah said the decision under the current situation is "against national interests and is unacceptable."

Abdullah said the removal of Mr. Andarabi and the appointment of an acting minister is a hasty decision that has been done in absence of justifiable reasons.

President Ghani on Friday appointed former Helmand governor Hayatullah Hayat as acting minister of interior and Chief of Army Staff Gen. Yasin Zia as acting minister of defense, according to a statement by the National Security Council.

Hayatullah Hayat replaced Gen. Massoud Andarabi who was appointed to the post in December 2015.

Also, Gen. Ayub Salangi, former deputy head of the Independent Directorate of Local Governance, was appointed as the deputy minister of interior affairs.

The statement said that the changes in the Ministry of Interior are aimed at improving the security situation and reforms in the ministry.

Meanwhile, another statement by the National Security Council reads that Gen. Yasin Zia will lead the ministry while also remaining in his post as chief of staff of the Afghan National Army.

The statement said that Gen. Zia will serve as acting minister of defense until the return of Defense Minister Assadullah Khalid, who is under treatment for an illness.

The appointments come as violence remains high in the country despite peace efforts.

Hayat has served as governor of Kandahar, Helmand and Nangarhar provinces. Gen. Zia has served as deputy head of the National Directorate of Security, deputy minister of defense and chief of army staff. 

Mohammad Ayub Salangi has served as senior deputy minister of interior for security.