President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday evening officially introduced Assadullah Khalid as acting minister of defense and Amrullah Saleh as acting minister of interior affairs. 

“Mr. Saleh and Mr. Khalid are among the young and talented cadres of this system. They have strong sense of patriotism and high moral. Despite their political differences, they have been cooperating with us. They have separate points of leadership, but have clear ideas. Their intelligence expertise in the view of current sensitive situation of the country is a national need. Therefore it was decided to seek their military experience in the reform process in the ministries of interior and defense," Ghani said.  

This comes a day after militants stormed a government building in Kabul and killed at least 43 people including 11 women. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Ghani said Afghanistan witnessed a deadly terrorist attack in Kabul in which dozens of Afghans were killed. 

“Unfortunately, another tragedy was forged against our people yesterday in Kabul in another shape. A number of our Kabul citizens were brutally martyred In the terrorist attack. This indicates that Afghanistan still faces a coward and brutal enemy,” said Ghani referring to the recent attack in Kabul. 

He said that the enemies of Afghanistan are not abiding by the Islamic values and Islamic principles and that they want only to create chaos and spread terror. 

He said Taliban by not accepting the responsibility for the attack cannot escape from the crime they have committed. 

On the work legacy of outgoing minister of interior Wais Ahmad Barmak and outgoing minister of defense Tariq Shah Bahrami, Ghani said: “Thanks for you leadership and service”. 

“You have proved your services and leadership to the Afghan people. We appreciate your services. Change and reposting in governance is an important principle,” he said. 

On his peace initiative Ghani said: “Our plan for peace is in Afghanistan is unprecedented and there is a consensus of all segments of the people about it. We are still committed on a dignified and lasting peace in the country.” 

“We still face an imposed and destructive war until we reach to peace. Management and leadership of this war needs leadership, authenticity and decisiveness and seriousness. We work for peace, but war also needs seriousness and self-assurance," the President said.

He said Afghanistan’s international partners committed to help the country as Afghanistan fights on the frontline of terrorism. 

“Terrorism is a big danger and Afghanistan’s stability is necessary for the region,” he said. 

Amrullah Saleh and Assadullah Khalid have previously served as head of the National Directorate of Security under former President Hamid Karzai's government.