According to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement, the remaining Australian troops in Afghanistan will leave in September.
The Prime Minister said Australia would follow the US and will end its military presence in Afghanistan after 20 years.
According to the Prime Minister in the last two years, Australia has been reducing its military presence in Afghanistan from a high of over 1,500 personnel to around 80 personnel currently.
The last remaining Australian troops will depart Afghanistan in September 2021 along with other allies and partners including the US.
Australian troops arrived in Afghanistan in 2001.
More than 39,000 Australian Defence Force personnel had been deployed to Afghanistan and 41 of them died in the country.
Australian Prime Minister acknowledged that the conflict has “exacted an enormous toll” on the Afghan people.
He further said that Australia would continue to support peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
Last year the Australian Defence Force released the findings of a 4-year inquiry that found “credible evidence” of the Special Forces soldiers’ murdering of 39 Afghans including children in total 23 incidents and none of the killings occurred in “the heat of a battle”. These killings have been described by many as war crimes.
