The Stranded: Australians Stuck In Afghanistan

Australia has had a long history of involvement in Afghanistan, dating back to the 19th century when Afghan cameleers played a crucial role in facilitating British exploration of the country. In recent times, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper (2001-2014) and Operation Highroad (2015-2021). The ADF's mission was to contain the threat from international terrorism, and thousands of Australians were deployed over the course of these operations. The last remaining ADF members flew out of Kabul in June 2021, bringing an end to Australia's two-decade-long military commitment to Afghanistan.

In addition to military personnel, there is also a significant Afghan diaspora in Australia. According to the 2021 census, there were nearly 60,000 Afghan Australians residing in the country, with large communities in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.

The Australian Defence Force's mission in Afghanistan

The ADF's involvement in Afghanistan included the deployment of naval, air, and land forces that participated in combat and combat support operations as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Australia's contribution to the war in Afghanistan also extended to the Persian Gulf, where naval and logistic support operations were conducted.

During the initial phase of Operation Slipper, the ADF provided a Special Forces Task Group and air-to-air refuelling aircraft to support coalition aircraft operating in Afghan airspace. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) also conducted maritime patrol missions in the Persian Gulf and provided logistic support for deployed forces.

In 2005, an Australian Special Forces Task Group was redeployed to Afghanistan, consisting of elements from the Special Air Service Regiment, the Royal Australian Regiment, the Incident Response Regiment, and logistic support personnel. This task group was equipped with Land Rovers and Bushmaster infantry mobility vehicles, and was supported by a detachment of Chinook helicopters.

In 2006, a Reconstruction Taskforce, based on the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, arrived in Uruzgan Province in southern Afghanistan. This task force was part of a Dutch-led Provincial Reconstruction Team and worked on projects such as the establishment of Forward Operating Bases and the capture of Kandahar International Airport.

In 2007, a 300-strong Special Operations Task Group was deployed to support the Reconstruction Taskforce, further increasing the number of Australian personnel in Afghanistan. Despite decreasing public support for the deployment, the number of Australian troops continued to grow, reaching 1,550 by mid-2009.

In 2009, Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams were embedded into the Afghan National Army battalions in Uruzgan as part of the Australian mission to mentor and partner with the ANA. This led to the renaming of the Reconstruction Taskforce to the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, and later to the Mentoring Task Force.

Australia's involvement in Afghanistan also included counter-insurgency operations in Uruzgan province, conducted in conjunction with Dutch, US, and other coalition forces.

In 2013, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that Australia's longest war was ending, and the last combat troops were withdrawn in December of that year. However, a contingent of Australian troops remained in Afghanistan to train and advise Afghan forces, with around 80 ADF personnel still in the country as of 2021.

The Australian Defence Force played a significant role in the evacuation efforts in Afghanistan in 2021, assisting in the evacuation of thousands of people from Kabul. The ADF's involvement in Afghanistan concluded in June 2021, bringing an end to a nearly 20-year military commitment to the country.

The number of Australian citizens in Afghanistan

Australia has had a long history of involvement in Afghanistan, from military operations to Afghan refugees seeking asylum in the country.

Australian Military Presence in Afghanistan

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been deployed in Afghanistan since 2001, with operations known as Operation Slipper (2001-2014) and Operation Highroad (2015-2021). The ADF has been involved in combat, combat support, and training and advisory roles. In June 2021, Australia completed its formal troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, with the last remaining ADF members flying out of Kabul ahead of the US withdrawal.

Afghan Refugees in Australia

Afghan refugees have been coming to Australia since the 19th century, with the first Afghans arriving as cameleers. During the Soviet-Afghan War and the Afghan Civil Wars, over 7,000 Afghans arrived in Australia. According to the 2021 census, there were 59,797 Afghan Australians in the country, a significant increase from previous years.

Australian Evacuation Efforts from Afghanistan

During the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Australia participated in one of its largest humanitarian airlift operations, evacuating around 4,100 people on 32 flights from Kabul. This included Australian citizens, Afghan citizens who had worked with Australian forces, and other vulnerable Afghans.

Current Situation

As of 2021, Australia no longer has a military presence in Afghanistan, and the Australian embassy in Kabul has been closed. However, the Australian government continues to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, with a focus on supporting women and girls. The government is also working to ensure visa options remain available for Afghan nationals.

The evacuation of Australians from Afghanistan

The Australian government had been planning the evacuation for months, as the Taliban advanced towards the capital, Kabul. Senior Australian officials were in talks with their American and British counterparts about possibly joining forces to rescue Afghans who had worked with Australian soldiers. The Australian government was criticised by some military experts for its relatively slow response in processing the applications of Afghan interpreters and other locally engaged workers who said they would be targeted by the Taliban for helping foreign forces.

The evacuation efforts were closely coordinated with international partners. The Australian government acknowledged the significant contribution of all those involved. The ADF said the mission was constantly assessed against the latest developments, as the situation in Afghanistan remained highly volatile and dangerous.

The Australian government is working to ensure that visa options continue to be available to Afghan nationals, both within Afghanistan and those displaced from their home country, through Australia's long-standing Humanitarian and Migration Programs.

The history of Afghan Australians

Afghan Australians are Australians tied to Afghanistan either by birth or ancestry. The history of Afghan Australians can be traced back to the 19th century when the first Afghans migrated to Australia as cameleers.

Cameleers

The first Afghan cameleers arrived in Melbourne in June 1860 with a shipment of 24 camels for the Burke and Wills expedition. They continued to work in the arid interior of the continent from the 1860s to the 1930s, until they were superseded by the development of railways and motorised road transport. The Afghans played a supportive role in the exploration and economic development of the interior through carting water, food and materials to remote pastoral stations and mining settlements, as well as for the construction of the Overland Telegraph, and the Port Augusta to Alice Springs railway. They also played an important role in establishing the Muslim faith in Australia.

Afghan Demographics

During the Soviet-Afghan War and the Afghanistan civil wars of the 1990s, over 7,000 Afghans arrived in Australia. Cameleers were prohibited from bringing their wives to Australia, so the Afghan demographic was almost entirely made up of men during this period. The White Australia policy prevented further migration from 1901 until the 1970s. In 2008, 19,416 people claimed Afghan ancestry, either as part of a mixed ancestry or Afghan alone.

Afghan Australians Today

At the time of the 2021 census, there were 59,797 Afghan Australians. Most Afghan Australians are fluent in English and their native Afghan languages such as Pashto and Persian (Dari and Hazaragi). Islam is the declared religion of most Afghan Australians, with a small minority of Christians.

Australian Military Presence in Afghanistan

The Australian Defence Force's mission in Afghanistan has been to "contain the threat from international terrorism", firstly under Operation Slipper (2001-2014) and then Operation Highroad (2015-2021). Over 26,000 Australian personnel have served in Afghanistan, with 41 killed and 261 wounded. The last ADF personnel and diplomats in Afghanistan departed on 18 June 2021.

The Australian Government's humanitarian response to the Afghanistan crisis

Evacuation Efforts

During the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Australian Government conducted a large-scale evacuation operation. Between August 18 and 26, Australia evacuated approximately 4,100 people from Kabul on 32 flights, including Australian citizens, Afghan nationals who assisted Australian forces, and other vulnerable Afghans. This operation involved hundreds of Australian Defence Force personnel and government officials and was one of the largest humanitarian airlift operations in the country's history.

Humanitarian Assistance

The Australian Government has committed significant financial assistance to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. They have pledged a total of $140 million from 2021 to 2024, with a focus on supporting women and girls. This includes $120 million for immediate humanitarian and basic services needs and $20 million to support internally displaced people and Afghan refugees in neighbouring countries. The Government is working closely with humanitarian partners, particularly UN agencies, to deliver this assistance while ensuring compliance with relevant sanctions and not benefiting the Taliban directly.

Advocacy for Human Rights

Australia has been vocal in calling for the protection of human rights in Afghanistan, especially for women and girls, who face restrictions on education, work, and freedom of movement. They have strongly condemned the Taliban's decision to ban girls from attending secondary school and women from attending university. Australia continues to engage with the Taliban regime in multilateral meetings to reinforce expectations regarding human rights, safe passage for those seeking to depart, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Visa Options for Afghan Nationals

The Australian Government is working to ensure that visa options remain available for Afghan nationals through its Humanitarian and Migration Programs. They have made available 31,500 places for Afghan people under these programs, demonstrating their commitment to providing refuge for those affected by the crisis.

Response to the Afghanistan Earthquake

In response to the deadly earthquake in Herat Province, Afghanistan, in 2022, the Australian Government provided $1 million in assistance through the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF). This funding was directed towards providing emergency shelter, health services, and food assistance to vulnerable Afghans affected by the earthquake, which exacerbated the existing humanitarian crisis in the country.

The Australian Government's response to the Afghanistan crisis has been comprehensive, focusing on both short-term evacuation and humanitarian assistance, as well as longer-term advocacy for human rights and support for Afghan refugees. Their efforts aim to address the urgent needs of the Afghan people, especially those most vulnerable, and provide a pathway to safety and stability.

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