The Defense Ministry of Australia confirmed that its servicemen have left Afghanistan in recent weeks which brought its military presence in the war-battered country officially to an end.
The CDC meetings, locally known as a shuras, are opportunities for the people to discuss issues relevant to their community. They are also an opportunity for Australian and Afghan leadership to get a better understanding of community sentiment towards ISAF presence in the area. Over 30 locals discussed security and development matters at the latest shura, which was held on-site at a school development project in the Baluchi Valley Region.
During the shura, LTCOL Blain announced that funding has now been made available to complete the school, which was very well received by community representatives. A key outcome of the meeting was the community’s desire for a safer community where children have a secure place to attend school and receive basic health care. Things we take for granted in Australia. Deep Caption: Operation SLIPPER is Australia’s military contribution to the international campaign against terrorism, piracy and improving maritime security. Under this operation, our forces contribute to the efforts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) – led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. ISAF seeks to bring security, stability and prosperity to Afghanistan and aims to prevent Afghanistan again becoming a safe haven for international terrorists. Operation SLIPPER also supports the United States-led International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT) in the broader Middle East.
Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton has told Sky News that Australia’s last supporting forces have been brought back to Australia.
Dutton has emphasized that their military mission is ended in coordination with the US and will take part in any other campaign led by the United States.
The country recently had only 80 troops who were commissioned for protecting the Kabul-based embassy and for carrying out diplomatic missions.
In April this year, Australia had announced to pull out all its troops as the US had decided to end its military engagement by September 11 the date which has been changed to August 31st.
Australia had deployed 38 thousand men in uniform from which 41 had been killed and its aerial forces have left Afghanistan back in 2013.
Australian forces have largely been accused of committing war crimes in particular in southern Helmand province. Australian servicemen who have been returned from Afghanistan now asked their government to conduct an investigation as cases of committing suicide surged among those who were deployed to Afghanistan. Investigation over alleged war crimes is also going on in Australia.
