Prime Minister Tony Abbott has declared a bittersweet end to Australia's mission in Afghanistan, saying a high price has been paid but Australia's involvement has made the country a better place.
He says Afghanistan's interior minister, Omar Daudzai, has pointed out that education and health are now available in Oruzgan province.
Mr Abbott says says the troops have done their work remarkably well with an extraordinary degree of professionalism.
More than 20,000 Australian troops have served in Afghanistan, 40 have been killed and 270 have been injured.
Mr Abbott says while there is no victory it is a job well done.
"Australia's longest war is ending. Not with victory, not with defeat. But with, we hope, an Afghanistan that's better for our presence here. Still this is a bittersweet moment for Australia. Sweet because hundreds of soldiers will be home by Christmas. Bitter because not all Australian families have had their sons, fathers and partners return."
Mr Abbott was making his fourth visit to Afghanistan but his first as Prime Minister.
He was accompanied by Opposition leader Bill Shorten in the first ever bipartisan political visit to Afghanistan.
It is Mr Shorten's first overseas visit as opposition leader.
Mr Shorten says Australia's troops should not be concerned about the reception they will receive from the Australian public when they return home, despite the lack of a clear-cut victory.
"This is an uncertain place. I don't think saying thank you is quite enough but it's the words that we can find. You should rest assured that in Australia no-one is against our military, everyone supports our armed forces and what you are doing here. You should be reassured that when your tour ends and you happen to tell people where you've been, you can be assured that every Australian knows of this and appreciates it and honours it.
The Australian involvement in Afghanistan has cost taxpayers more than seven billion dollars.
Retired Major General John Cantwell, who was the commander of Australian forces in Afghanistan until 2010, says while the involvement was justified it could have been more successful.
But Major General Cantwell says he thinks the involvement in the Iraq war was a mistake.
"The bottom line would be that we were right to go there in the wake of the atrocities in New York and Washington to get the Taliban out of their role in supporting Al Qaeda. That was successful. Regrettably we lost focus and drifted off to Iraq - that was a bad decision. Overall I think the Australian people can be very pleased with what's been achieved in their name."
Under current plans, Australia will end all combat operations and withdraw around 1,000 troops from Oruzgan Province by the end of the year.
However, about 400 will remain in a variety of training and mentoring roles with the Afghan National Army.
Share
