Australian Troops: The Lingering Presence In Afghanistan

Australia sent troops to Afghanistan as part of the U.S.-led war in the country, with around 30,000 Australian Defence Force personnel serving in the country between 2001 and 2021. The Australian government has since launched investigations into its troops' suspected war crimes in Afghanistan, including the alleged unlawful killing of civilians. The country's last remaining troops withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, following the U.S.'s decision to pull out by September of that year.

Alleged war crimes by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan

Australia has sent more than 25,000 troops, 3,000 of them special forces, in rotations to Afghanistan as part of the U.S.-led war from 2005 to 2016. An Australian military inquiry report found credible information of suspected unlawful killings of civilians and efforts to cover up the incidents. The report, commonly known as the Brereton Report, found evidence of 39 murders of civilians and prisoners by members of the Australian special forces, with some incidents described as "the most disgraceful episode in Australia's military history".

The report also found evidence of the practice of "throwdowns", where Australian troops would plant weapons on civilians killed in combat to make them appear to be legitimate combatants. It also described a "warrior culture" embraced by some of the force, with patrol commanders requiring junior soldiers to shoot prisoners to achieve a first kill, a practice known as "blooding".

The release of the report garnered national headlines and international attention, with the Australian government establishing an Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) to further investigate the dozens of incidents identified. In March 2023, the first arrest was made of a soldier accused of murdering an Afghan civilian in 2012, marking a significant step towards accountability and sending a powerful message to Australia's armed forces.

In addition to the investigations and arrests, there have been legal consequences for whistleblowers and journalists who have spoken out about the alleged war crimes. David McBride, a former army lawyer who leaked documents about the alleged war crimes to the media, is facing a criminal trial and a potential life sentence. While he acknowledges the risk of a lengthy prison sentence, McBride believes that revealing the information was important to hold those responsible accountable and show that "we are not above the law".

The Australian court system has also played a role in addressing the allegations. In one case, a court sided with three newspapers in a defamation suit brought by a former Australian Special Forces soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, over their coverage of the murders of civilians during the armed conflict in Afghanistan. The court found that the media outlets had established the substantial truth of the allegations, marking a victory for public interest journalism. During the trial, former Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers testified to witnessing summary executions of civilians and being pressured to carry out killings themselves.

The impact of the war on the Australian Army

The war in Afghanistan has profoundly changed the Australian Army and had a significant impact on the whole defence force. Around 30,000 ADF personnel served in Afghanistan, with 41 dying. The vast majority fought and worked with courage and decency, living in small, isolated patrol bases in remote valleys with the Afghan soldiers they mentored.

The war saw Australian soldiers fight alongside Afghan troops, and some died together. Even when trust was broken by 'insider' killings of Australian and other allied soldiers by disaffected Afghan personnel, the Diggers persevered.

The conflict also saw Australian soldiers take on technical training roles, teaching Afghans various trades. They also built schools and clinics, introducing visitors to young Afghan doctors who worked there, treating the sick and injured.

There were also periods of relative calm, when journalists and visitors could roam local markets without an armed escort. However, there was a concurrent war going on in the mountains and valleys, where Australian and allied special forces engaged in dangerous operations, hidden from media and public view.

A small minority of these soldiers became uncontrollable, leading to a breakdown in the chain of command. Some officers were treated with contempt by NCOs who had spent endless nights on dangerous operations and knew more about fighting and surviving. There was also a view that the regular army had been marginalised, with a determination to minimise casualties by using special forces for most operations.

Investigations into possible unlawful killings by Australian soldiers found evidence of war crimes, including the killing of unarmed Afghan prisoners. The report by Justice Paul Brereton detailed a range of atrocities committed by a small minority of soldiers. The report led to the disbandment of the 2nd Squadron of the Special Air Service Regiment.

The Afghanistan conflict was Australia's longest war, and its intensity and hidden costs are reflected in the number of veterans who have died by suicide since returning home. However, the war also taught the army about the need for tight integration between the war fighter and intelligence. It also led to technological advances to deal with improvised bombs, which will save lives in future conflicts.

The number of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan

Australia's military involvement in Afghanistan, known as Operation Slipper (2001-2014) and Operation Highroad (2015-2021), has seen the deployment of thousands of troops and personnel.

Operation Slipper, which began in late 2001, initially involved a Special Forces Task Group and two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Boeing 707 air-to-air refuelling aircraft. Over time, the number and type of units deployed varied, with the addition of combat teams, operational mentoring and liaison teams, logistics and support units, and rotary wing groups, among others. The number of Australian personnel in Afghanistan increased gradually from 950 in mid-2007 to 1,550 in mid-2009.

In October 2013, then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott stated that "Australia's longest war is ending," signalling the withdrawal of combat troops by December 2013. However, a contingent of around 400 personnel remained in Afghanistan as trainers and advisors, with approximately 80 ADF personnel still in the country as late as 2021.

Overall, more than 25,000 Australian troops, including 3,000 special forces, were sent to Afghanistan in rotations from 2005 to 2016. According to another source, over 26,000 Australian personnel have served in Afghanistan, while yet another source puts the number at around 30,000.

The Australian government's investigations into war crimes

The Australian government has been investigating allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan since 2016. The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry Report, commonly known as the Brereton Report, was released in November 2020 and found evidence of 39 murders of civilians and prisoners by members of the Australian special forces. The report was led by New South Wales Supreme Court Judge Paul Brereton, who is also a major general in the army reserve. It found that junior soldiers were often required by their superiors to murder prisoners to achieve their first kill, a practice known as "blooding". The report also found evidence of "throwdowns", where Australian troops would plant weapons on civilians killed in combat to make them appear as legitimate combatants.

In response to the report, the Australian government established the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) in late 2020 to further investigate the dozens of incidents identified in the report. The OSI is an investigative body that works with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) to build briefs of evidence and make referrals to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP). The OSI has indicated that it may pass its first brief of evidence to the CDPP in the first half of 2023.

The first arrest in connection with the Brereton Report was made in March 2023. Oliver Schulz, a former Australian SAS soldier, was charged with murdering an unarmed Afghan civilian. This was the first time an Australian soldier had been charged under Australian law with a war crime.

The Australian government has also taken steps to address the cultural issues within the military that contributed to the war crimes. The Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, apologised for "any wrongdoing by Australian soldiers" and decried a "distorted culture" within the Australian Defence Force. The government also disbanded the 2 Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment, and restructured the Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) to implement the Afghanistan inquiry's findings and rebuild trust.

The Australian government's response to the Brereton Report and its commitment to investigating and prosecuting war crimes sends a powerful message to its armed forces and the international community that it is taking its responsibility to uphold accountability and the rule of law seriously.

The role of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan

Initially, Australian special forces were involved in the establishment of the coalition's first base, southwest of Kandahar. The ADF provided air-to-air refuelling aircraft, as well as aircraft for maritime patrol missions and logistic support. The Special Forces also helped establish the US-led coalition's first Forward Operating Base (Camp Rhino) southwest of Kandahar in November 2001, followed by the capture of Kandahar International Airport in December 2001.

From 2005 to 2016, Australia sent more than 25,000 troops to Afghanistan, including 3,000 special forces personnel, in rotations. These troops were involved in fierce fighting and demonstrated bravery and dedication. Australia's presence peaked at just over 1,500 personnel in mid-2009.

In addition to combat operations, the ADF was also engaged in counter-insurgency, reconstruction, and mentoring activities. They built schools, roads, and hospitals, and mentored the fledgling army of the new, democratic nation. They also trained and advised Afghan security forces, helping them to build their defence, security, and counter-terrorism capabilities to deny terrorist organisations safe havens.

However, the Australian military's involvement in Afghanistan has also been marred by allegations of human rights abuses and war crimes. There have been dozens of incidents in which Australian forces are accused of killing civilians and unlawfully killing Afghan prisoners and civilians. An independent inquiry found credible information that Australian special forces allegedly killed 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians, with senior commandos forcing junior soldiers to kill captives.

The Australian government has launched investigations into these allegations, and the first Australian soldier was charged with a war crime in Afghanistan in March 2023.

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