Afghanistan's defense minister has resigned after losing a no confidence vote in parliament.

General Abdul Rahim Wardak told reporters in Kabul Tuesday that he was stepping down to respect the lower house of parliament's decision.

Afghan lawmakers voted Saturday to remove Wardak and Interior Minister Bismillah Mohammadi after a series of insurgent attacks and cross-border shelling incidents blamed on Pakistan. The ministers were censured for failing to bring security to the country and protect top officials.

Following the vote, President Hamid Karzai said Wardak and Mohammadi will remain in office until their replacements are appointed.

The top Cabinet ministers' dismissal comes as NATO combat troops withdraw from Afghanistan and look to complete the security transition by the end of 2014.