Back in July, insurgents staged an attack on Kabul airport, holing up in a building under construction, the gunfire clearly audible at the nearby main coalition base.
This disrupted airport operations but was brought under control within hours, the four insurgents dead.
This was all achieved by Afghan security forces including their police special forces.
And that was a matter of some pride for the senior Australian officer who now commands the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) special operations forces.
"We saw an integrated Afghan-led response to contain the incident and ultimately resolve it," he told AAP.
"It was led by and conducted by Afghan special police, with ISAF NATO special forces mentors simply providing any necessary battle space coordination. It was Afghan-led and Afghan executed."
The officer - whose name can't be revealed for security reasons - said this demonstrated that coalition assistance was producing positive effects.
"We will leave them better than we found them," he said.
Australia's special operations task group, comprising elements of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR), 2nd Commando Regiment and support units, withdrew from Afghanistan at the end of last year.
Despite speculation of an ongoing counter-terrorist role, only a small number of Australian special forces remain in Afghanistan. Some provide VIP protection while others advise the HQ General Command of Police Special Units (GCPSU).
This is a headquarters unit, broadly comparable to Australia's Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which coordinates Afghan Special Police security responses to major events such as the presidential elections and also insurgent high profile attacks.
The Afghan National Army also has its own special forces which the US advises and mentors. Australia has long worked with the Afghan police special units.
"They are capable and growing in confidence. Tactically they are very capable," the officer said. As for much of the Afghan security forces, the challenge is in building enduring capability in unexciting areas such as budget management.
Although Australia's SOTG has gone, there are still some 1000 NATO special forces inside Afghanistan from some 20 nations, all under overall Aussie command.
Some details of activities of Australia's SOTG have been disclosed but little has ever been revealed about Afghan special forces and those of other nations.
The Australian officer said their job had remained and had actually gained in prominence with the withdrawal of coalition forces.
"We are now more than ever involved in disruption in the insurgency leadership and lethal aid facilitation," he said.
Lethal aid facilitation includes the insurgent bombmakers. All operations are led by Afghans, most wholly independent of coalition assistance.
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