Australian troops will not return to Afghanistan, even if the nation's security deteriorates in the coming years, according to new Defence Minister Peter Dutton.
Key points:
- The United States' decision to withraw troops from Afghanistan has sparked fresh concerns about the nation's stability
- Peter Dutton said it was "very unlikely" Australian troops would return if the situation got any worse
- The Prime Minister paid tribute to veterans of the Afghanistan conflict at an Anzac Day service
This year's Anzac Day commemorations will be the last marked with Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel deployed in Afghanistan.
Of the more than 39,000 Australian troops who have served in the country over the past two decades, only 80 remain there.
Earlier this month, US President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of American troops in time for the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said ADF personnel would also leave.
The decision has sparked fresh concerns about the stability of the country, with violence across Afghanistan escalating and peace talks with the Taliban having stalled.
Mr Dutton said it was "very unlikely" Australian troops would return to Afghanistan if the situation got any worse.
"We don't have any plans to go back in. I can't see how that's possible in the foreseeable future," he told the ABC's Insiders program.
"I think there'd be a different way of dealing with those threats than troops on the ground."
Corporal Hamish Paterson: Defence Department
)Mr Dutton said Australia's military efforts in Afghanistan had helped to curb the threat of terrorism across the world, but he said the situation would need to be monitored for decades to come.
"If there is an issue with the Taliban, as the United States has already demonstrated, they will have an ongoing commitment to dealing with that," he said.
"If there is a resurgence or if there is the ability of a terrorist attack in our country we will do whoever is humanly and legally possible to keep our people safe."
Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to veterans of the Afghan conflict at the Anzac Day dawn service in Canberra, describing them as "the bravest of this generation".
"The world is safer from the threat of terrorism than when the Twin Towers were felled almost 20 years ago. But we remain vigilant.
"However, this has come at great cost — 41 Australian lives lost in Afghanistan, whom we especially remember and honour this morning."
Dutton overruled Defence chief in 'national interest'
Anzac Day 2021 is the first since the release of the report by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) that revealed shocking allegations of war crimes against Australian Special Forces in Afghanistan.
The investigation by Major-General Paul Brereton found at least 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners had been murdered, with "credible information" 25 current or former ADF personnel were involved.
In the wake of the report, the Chief of Defence Force, Angus Campbell, recommended revoking the meritorious unit citation for the Special Operations Task Group – about 3,000 troops who had served in Afghanistan between 2007 and 2013.
On Monday Mr Dutton overturned that decision, saying he did not agree with it.
"I looked at all of the facts, I have read the Brereton Report … and I've canvassed widely, including with the Prime Minister, but with many of our Defence personnel as well," he said.
"I don't believe you could go back to any period in history, frankly, and say that all of those that have received a unit citation, to the last man or woman, have conducted themselves with 100 per cent clarity around their own conduct."
Mr Dutton said he would overrule the Chief of the Defence Force if he believed it was in the best interests of the ADF.
"I believed it was in the best interests of our Defence personnel, and of the organisation," he argued.
The minister said criminal investigations into the war crimes allegations were ongoing.
Focus shifts to potential conflict over Taiwan
With Australia's military commitment to Afghanistan drawing to a close, Mr Dutton said he did not think conflict erupting over Taiwan "should be discounted".
The US has raised concerns about Chinese aggression towards Taiwan, with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warning the US has "a serious commitment to Taiwan being able to defend itself".
Australia's Defence chiefs have said such a conflict would be "disastrous".
"I think China has been very clear about the reunification, and that's been a long-held objective of theirs," the minister said.
"If you look at any of the rhetoric that is coming out of China, from spokesmen particularly in recent weeks and months in response to different suggestions that have been made, they have been very clear about that goal.
"Obviously there is a significant amount of [military] activity, and there is an animosity between Taiwan and China.
"For us, we want to make sure we continue to be a good neighbour in the region, that we work with our partners and with our allies, and nobody wants to see conflict between China and Taiwan or anywhere else."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMibmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTA0LTI1L2F1c3RyYWxpYW4tdHJvb3BzLXdpbGwtbm90LXJldHVybi10by1hZmdoYW5pc3Rhbi1wZXRlci1kdXR0b24vMTAwMDkzODAy0gEoaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuYWJjLm5ldC5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzEwMDA5MzgwMg?oc=5
2021-04-25 04:29:50Z
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