Govt, Labor consider more Afghan help

The government and the opposition say they would consider any request for more military assistance for Afghanistan

File image of Julie Bishop

File image of Julie Bishop Source: AAP

The coalition and Labor are on the same page in saying they would carefully consider requests for more military assistance from Afghanistan to help combat a resurgent Taliban.

If that request is made, the government would consider it, given the long commitment and sacrifice of defence personnel, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said.

Ditto the opposition, with foreign affairs spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek saying Labor would be very concerned to see all the investment of the international community undermined by a Taliban return.

About 250 Australian Defence Force personnel remain in Afghanistan, most in the capital Kabul.

Their major activity is mentoring instructors at the Afghan National Army Officer academy.

Australian troops first deployed to Afghanistan in 2001, with numbers peaking at more than 1500 in mid-2009. Most withdrew at the end of 2013.

A total of 41 Australian soldiers died in Afghanistan.

With the drawdown in international troops, the Taliban has staged a resurgence with a series of attacks throughout Afghanistan.

Ms Bishop said she was deeply concerned about increasing links between Islamic State and more extreme elements of the Taliban.


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Source: AAP



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