Nabil’s resignation comes amid a string of high-profile Taliban attacks around the country, including Tuesday’s deadly assault on the airport in southern Kandahar city.
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The number included 38 civilians, 10 Afghan National Army soldiers and two policemen, the Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday.
The attack will likely renew concerns about the capabilities of the Afghan security forces, who have been stretched by a stubborn insurgency since the worldwide military coalition withdrew most of its troops and turned over responsibility for the country’s security to Afghan forces at the end of past year.
On Tuesday night, Taliban fighters targeted a residential compound and military bases at the airport, which is used by Afghan, US and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military forces.
“This is the most serious attack we’ve witnessed against the (Kandahar) complex”, which also houses a joint Nato-Afghan base, the official said.
The siege in Kandahar was continuing just hours after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani landed in Islamabad for the Heart of Asia regional conference that aims to revive peace talks with the Taliban. Another source said the third floor was on fire after the final standoff with the last assailant.
Several security force members also sustained injuries, with one militant detained during the counter-offensive raid.
At least 37 people, including 17 military personnel and four police, were wounded. the defence ministry said. The Taliban had captured the civilians, who were killed later on, he alleged.
The Taliban posted a picture on their website of the militants it said were involved in the brazen attack.
However, analysts have concluded that the attack was a major security breach, as heavily armed militants were able to enter a fortified area supposed to have been made secure by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
Relations between Ghani and the NDS had been strained since at least the fall of Kunduz, which caught security forces badly unprepared and which an inquiry last month blamed on poor leadership.
Rauf Ahmadi, spokesman for the provincial police chief, said the infighting between the Taliban erupted on Monday in the Zerko area and that about 30 fighters from both sides were also wounded.
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In response, Ghani pointed out that an offensive by the Pakistani military against Pakistani Taliban has sent an influx of Pakistanis into Afghanistan.
