Canberra - Deputy Foreign Minister, HE Hekmat Khalil Karzai, participated in a ceremony held to establish Afghan-Australian Parliamentary Friends Group in the Australian Parliament, where he officially inaugurated it on 8 December 2017.

During his speech in the Australian Parliament, Mr. Karzai called the establishment of this Group at the Parliament of Australia a positive and valuable step for deepened friendship between the two countries and further cooperation in the international affairs. He also thanked the group members for creating such a platform.

The Head of this Group in the Australian Parliament Mr. Anthony Wallace who is representing the Liberal Party said that the establishment of the Group plays an important role in extending relations between the two countries and can pave the way for cooperation with the people and government of Afghanistan. More than 20 Australian parliamentarians from different parties have registered their names in this Group.

While appreciating Australia’s participation in fighting terrorism and internationally supporting Afghanistan, Mr. Karzai said that Afghanistan would not forget Australia’s political, military, and development support. Moreover, he emphasized that the people of Afghanistan have been victims of terrorism and violence while it is yet to be done with terrorism. Therefore, Afghanistan and Australia still have a long way in fighting terrorism.

In this program, members of Afghan-Australian Parliamentary Friends Group called this initiative a positive step on creating political consensus, exchanging required information, and sound partnership between the two countries. Each member of the Group has travelled to Afghanistan more than once.