One of our staunchest allies is winding down its military mission in Afghanistan at the end of the year.
During a surprise visit to troops in Uruzgan province, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced an end to Australia’s Defense Forces (ADF) combat involvement in Afghanistan.
“It has been worth it. This has been a very difficult commitment. People have paid a high price. We have lost 40 of our best. We mourn them, we remember them, we honour them, we want to work with their families. We will never forget them,” Abbott said according to The Guardian and added that Australia’s involvement was ending, “not with victory, not with defeat, but with, we hope, an Afghanistan that is better for our presence here”.
The Guardian:
[Abbott] described the withdrawal as “bitter-sweet”. It was “sweet because hundreds of soldiers will be home for Christmas; bitter because not all Australian families have had their sons, fathers and partners return. Sweet because our soldiers have given a magnificent account of themselves; bitter because Afghanistan remains a dangerous place despite all that has been done.”
Australia will continue to provide support to Afghanistan beyond 2014, including training of the Afghan national security forces and development assistance.
Australian forces have maintained a permanent presence in Uruzgan since 2005, with more than 20,000 serving in the country since the start of the war.
The announcement came during a ceremony honoring the 40 Australians who have fallen during the war.
Read more here
Image: www.shutterstock.com
