Afghanistan

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.

Minister Payne announces the appointment of Mr Paul Wojciechowski as Australia’s next Ambassador to Afghanistan.

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.

The Australian Government condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks this week in Afghanistan on a maternity clinic in Kabul, and a funeral procession in Nangarhar province.

Australia welcomes the announcement that the United States and the Taliban have signed an agreement on steps toward a political settlement in Afghanistan.