Prime Minister Julia Gillard has flagged the need for extra Defence Force personnel to be sent to Afghanistan as part of the transition process to local security control.
In an annual address to the parliament on Australia’s progress in Afghanistan, the Prime Minister said Australia would be “tested” in its last days of transition, but that our defence forces would “stand firm”.
She said all of Afghanistan’s provincial capitals and three-quarters of its population were in areas where the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) led the allied forces and the country was no longer a haven for international terrorists.
Ms Gillard said efforts were still in line with her previous advice in April when she said transition in the Oruzgan province would take 12 to 18 months and most troops would return home by the end of next year.
But she says there will likely be the need for extra resources to manage an orderly exit from the country.
“As we begin detailed planning for its final phases, which of course remain some time off, it is likely that we will identify the need for some additional personnel and resources to complete those final phases of practical extraction and repatriation,” Ms Gillard said.
“We will apply the lessons of previous operational draw-downs, to ensure stability and security through the whole period.”
Ms Gillard says by the end of this year, Australia’s involvement in Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province will be more of an advisory role.
The Prime Minister said Australia would also contribute to a new NATO-led mission after 2014 training, advising and assisting Afghan forces, including through the Afghan National Army Officer Academy.
As she previously advised, Australia may contribute a limited Special Forces contribution as well under certain conditions.
The Prime Minister also said she was confident the government was doing all it could to protect the 1550 Australian current serving soldiers from increasing “insider attacks” and paid tribute to the 39 Diggers killed in the combat.


