The Chief of the Defence Force, General David Hurley, met with military leaders in Brussels this week to discuss the future of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan.
Based on current assessments, Australia and ISAF commanders are confident Australia will have achieved the ISAF objectives in Uruzgan and the majority of Australian personnel will be withdrawn by the end of the year.
General Hurley said the ISAF Chiefs of Defence meeting reviewed the progress of the ISAF campaign and the development of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).
“The ANSF now lead 80 per cent of all security operations in Afghanistan but more importantly, the people of Afghanistan are developing a sense of pride and confidence in their own security forces,” General Hurley said.
Importantly the meeting reinforced ISAF’s ongoing commitment to the Afghan people now and into the future.
The Defence Chiefs also discussed the international community’s contribution beyond 2014.
“The nature of our engagement will change when a new NATO mission commences in 2015. Australia is one of a number of countries that have committed to a long-term partnership with Afghanistan and we will now work to finalise a range of options for the Federal Government to consider,” General Hurley said.
General Hurley also met with newly appointed Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Philip Breedlove, USAF.