Atmar, Wardak, and Qanuni told me that they had never received any gifts from the bank.

NEWYORKER: The Afghan Bank Heist

In an e-mail, Atmar laid the blame for the allegations on a dispute within the bank.

NEWYORKER: The Afghan Bank Heist

"This accelerated drawdown of troops in 2013 will be very unhelpful and will have far-reaching negative consequences for the growth of Afghan security forces, " said Hanif Atmar, an opposition leader and former interior minister, citing adverse effects on this year's fighting season and elections planned in 2014.

WSJ: Obama to Draw Down Troops in Afghanistan