Afghanistan and Australia Discuss Enhancing Military and Security Cooperation

Canberra – The Afghan delegation comprising of Deputy Defence Minister, Lt. General Iqbal Ali Naderi and Lt. Colonel Sayed Hasib Sediqi, together with the Afghan Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia, HE Wahidullah Waissi, met with Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Defense of Australia at her office in the Parliament House on 22 May 2018. 

Both sides discussed enhansing defence and security cooperation in the areas of military education, women empowerment and equipment. “Australia will remain committed to a stable and secure Afghanistan and continues to support the NATO-led train, advise and assist mission called Resolute Support.” Defense Minister Payne said. She also emphasised on her government’s committment to support Afghanistan on the battle against international terrorism. She reiterated support for increasing the number of students at the Australian military colleges. 

Lt. General Naderi thanked the Australian government for their support through the Resolute Support mission and for the military education opportunties provided for Afghan students. He discussed enhansing military education for Afghan femal cadets. 

Two Afghan cadets already studying at the Australian Royal Military College (RMC) Duntroon in 2018-2019. Afghanistan will have more students at the Australian Command and Staff Course (ACSC) and Center for Defence and Strategic Studies (CDSS) for the years 2018 and beyond. 

Around 300 Australian Defense Force (ADF) members from the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army, the Royal Australian Air Force and Defence civilians are deployed in Afghanistan as part of Operation HIGHROAD. ADF personnel perform in a variety of specialist and advisory roles as embeds within Headquarters Resolute Support in Kabul; the Train Advise Assist Command – South in Kandahar and Train Advise Assist Command-Air in Kabul. ADF embeds work with members of the coalition, Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF), ANDSF and Afghan security ministries to assist in institutional capacity building within the Afghan security institutions.