Australia is a stable, democratic and culturally diverse nation with a highly skilled workforce and one of the strongest performing economies in the world.
Afghanistan continues to face one of the world's most severe and protracted humanitarian crises. Prolonged drought, decades of conflict, COVID-19, and the recent political and economic crises have exacerbated the humanitarian need.
Australia implements UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2615 of 22 December establishing a humanitarian exemption to the UNSC sanctions regime in relation to the Taliban.
We are deeply concerned by reports of summary killings and enforced disappearances of former members of the Afghan security forces as documented by Human Rights Watch and others.
We are deeply worried about Afghan women and girls, their rights to education, work and freedom of movement. We call on those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan to guarantee their protection.
As in any crisis situation, the Australian Government’s priority is to ensure the safety of its citizens. We have over 130 Australians in Afghanistan, working in the UN, NGOs, and elsewhere, and we are working to bring them and their families home.
In light of the imminent international military withdrawal from Afghanistan, Australia will as an interim measure revert to the model of visiting accreditation for our diplomatic representation to Afghanistan, which we used from the opening of diplomatic relations in 1969 until 2006.
Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs visited Kabul and affirmed Australia’s support for the Afghanistan Government and people during this time of change for the country.
Afghan Army deserter Hekmatullah, who murdered three off-duty Australian soldiers in 2012 in a cold-blooded crime of betrayal, is being transferred to a detention facility in Qatar by the Government of Afghanistan.
