KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — War-torn Afghanistan may soon have a defense minister, nine months after the new government was formed and amid some of the toughest fighting since the Talban’s insurgency began 14 years ago.

Masoom Stanekzai is better known as a peacemaker than a battlefield strategist, having led the High Peace Council negotiating body charged with ending the conflict with the Taliban, but now he is directing the war. He is expected to be confirmed soon by parliament, though the law allows him to assume the post in an acting capacity.

His appointment will complete President Ashraf Ghani’s Cabinet and finally bring what one Western military official called “strong, positive, legitimate civilian leadership” to the military as it tackles an invigorated Taliban without the backing of international forces, which ended their combat mission last year.

The official was not authorized to speak publicly so spoke on condition of anonymity.

Stanekzai takes the job as the Taliban are redefining their war against Kabul, joining forces with other militant groups and spreading the fight to every corner of the country. A change in tactics has taken Afghan security forces by surprise and forced them to spread ever-thinner as their casualty rates soar.

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