Calls for Australian troops to focus on Asia region as fighting returns to Afghanistan

The region that saw the bloodiest fighting of Afghanistan’s 20 year war has again descended into chaos prompting calls for the Australian Defence Force to pull out of the embattled region.

The Afghan region Australian troops fought and died for during two decades of combat has descended into chaos with a resurgent Taliban campaign forcing 35,000 civilians to flee their homes and prompting fresh US air strikes.

Just a day after Defence Minister Linda Reynolds confirmed another Australian Defence Force withdrawal phase from the embattled Afghanistan, the Taliban moved back into Helmand Province with co-ordinated attacks.

It is here coalition forces fought some of the bloodiest campaigns of Afghanistan’s 19-year war including Australian troops from the Special Operations Task Group and others largely in support of British operations.

Australian Artillery Gunners from the Darwin-based 8/12 Medium Regiment in Helmand at Forward Operating Base Armadillo. Picture: ADF

American forces have launched two days of air strikes in the southern Afghanistan province in support of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), some of whom were trained by the ADF in recent years.

The US administration today vowed despite the violence in Helmand – which yesterday also saw nine ANSF troops killed when two troop helicopters crashed – the fragile peace accord between the Americans and Taliban remained.

An Australian special forces soldier walks ahead of his Afghan National Security Force and Australian Special Operations Task Group comrades after a mission in Helmand province. Picture: ADF

Senate powerbroker independent Rex Patrick said Senator Reynolds’ confirmation this week the ADF had now wrapped up its training operation of the various Afghan security forces, now was a time for a full withdrawal and an independent review into the effectiveness of Australia’s involvement in the Middle East more broadly.

ADF Sapper Rowan Robinson was killed in action during a fire fight in Helmand province in 2011. Sapper Robinson was a 23-year-old specialist combat engineer from the Sydney based Incident Response Regiment (IRR). Picture: Supplied

He said those still there served no strategic purpose, with the exception of maritime operations, and should come home to prepare for potential operations in the Asian region.

“Bringing an end to Australia’s remaining deployments in the Middle East is clearly overdue,” he said.

“After nearly two decades of operations in the Middle East, our special forces especially need time to rebuild and reorientate themselves towards possible future operations in Australia’s immediate strategic region. We are entering a new era of competition between major powers focused on East Asia and the Pacific … Australia may face significant strategic challenges closer to home.”

Tens of thousands of people in southern Afghanistan Helmand province have fled their homes this week following days of heavy fighting between the Taliban and security forces as violence continues to soar despite ongoing peace talks. Picture: AFP

Aid and development agency Save the Children said the escalation of violence in Helmand was deeply concerning particularly for fleeing families.

“Four decades of conflict in Afghanistan has had a devastating impact on the lives of children,” Save the Children’s Country Director in Afghanistan Chris Nyamandi said.

“It is vital that all parties to the fighting in Helmand respect the laws of war and do everything they can to protect the children and their families fleeing the violence. Longer-term, we urge all parties to achieve lasting peace in Afghanistan so that children can grow up in a country free from conflict.”

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Originally published as Calls for Australian troops to focus on Asia region as fighting returns to Afghanistan