Kabul
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani appointed hardline opponents of neighbouring Pakistan to two top security posts on Sunday, potentially complicating US efforts to revive peace talks with the Taliban ahead of next summer’s withdrawal of 7,000 American troops.

Ghani announced that Amrullah Saleh will be the next interior minister and Asadullah Khaleed the defence minister. Both are former intelligence chiefs who have blamed Pakistan for the Taliban’s resurgence in recent years and have even called for it to be declared a state sponsor of terror.

Parliament will have to approve the appointments.Pakistan, which has influence over the Taliban, is taking part in the latest US effort to revive the peace process.