Australia’s embassy in Kabul is to be CLOSED as the last 80 Aussie troops prepare to leave Afghanistan
- Australia established an embassy in Afghanistan in 2006 inside US compound
- Now facing closure as Australia’s last 80 troops prepare to leave Afghanistan
- Ongoing security fears have seen the embassy become a financial burden
Australia’s embassy in Afghanistan will soon be closed permanently as dozens of troops prepare to leave the war-torn country.
The move comes just weeks after the government announced it would pull its last 80 troops out of Afghanistan.
The Kabul embassy’s closure is reportedly imminent, with private security companies already notified their contracts are due to expire in June.
At this stage it is unclear whether Australia will maintain any ongoing presence in Afghanistan, according to The Australian.
Australia’s embassy in Afghanistan will soon be closed permanently as dozens of troops prepare to leave the war-torn country (stock image)
The closure of the Australian embassy in the capital Kabul (pictured) is reportedly imminent
One option could be shifting to the US embassy, which Australia operated from until 2011. Australia could also go through another embassy based in the United Arab Emirates.
The Tailban are likely to use the closure as propaganda by saying it shows Australia doesn’t believe it can keep its staff safe now that NATO troops are pulling out.
A formal announcement surrounding Australia’s future diplomatic presence in Afghanistan is expected over the next few days.
On May 10, Foreign Minister Marise Payne spruiked Australia’s ongoing support for the people of Afghanistan.
‘We will continue our close friendship, and support our shared aspiration of peace, stability and prosperity,’ Senator Payne said in a statement.
‘We will also continue our development assistance program to work to preserve the significant gains made by the Afghan people, in particular advancing the rights of women.’
Australia’s military involvement in Afghanistan was tipped to cease after US President Joe Biden confirmed in April he would pull the remaining 2500 American troops from the country by September this year.
Australia re-established its embassy in Afghanistan – inside the US compound – back in 2006, before electing to open its own independent embassy five years later.
Repeated security fears have resulted in the embassy becoming a financial headache for the government in recent years.
Australian combat operations formally ended in Afghanistan in 2013, but several hundred troops remained behind to train and mentor local forces.
The closure of the Australian embassy comes just two weeks after Foreign Minister Marise Payne (pictured) spruiked Australia’s ongoing support for the people of Afghanistan
Australia’s military involvement in Afghanistan (pictured) was tipped to cease after US President Joe Biden confirmed in April he would pull the remaining 2500 American troops from the country by September this year (stock image)