Our Afghanistan veterans should hold their heads high

Peter Dutton at the Townsville Field Training Area during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2021 in July.

Australians are looking on with shock and sadness at the unfolding events in Afghanistan.

This is a distressing time for the Afghan people, and for our men and women in uniform.

Almost 39,000 Australian Defence Force personnel served in Afghanistan over the past 20 years. Many returned home with physical injuries and mental wounds. Some will never heal.

Forty-one Australians lost their lives in the service of our country. Their families will feel the pain of these developments acutely, and we must surround them with support and care.

Australians must never forget why we went into Afghanistan, or what our military achieved.

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, prime minister John Howard invoked the ANZUS treaty for the first time. We stood with our American friends in their time of need. Australia became part of the NATO-led mission and entered Afghanistan to thwart terrorism.

Through Operations Slipper and Highroad the ADF helped to deny terrorist organisations a safe haven. Our forces and those of our allies prevented terrorists in Afghanistan carrying out attacks around the world, including on our own soil. Together, we foiled al-Qa’ida and brought its leadership to justice. We made Australia a safer place and saved Australian lives.

The service of our ADF personnel and those of other agencies gave Afghans a chance for a better future. Afghans gained increased access to basic health care and electricity, reduced maternal mortality rates, rises in life expectancy and the participation of women in politics and girls attending schools. A generation of young Afghans were given hope.

We have not forgotten the Afghans who supported our troops over the last two decades. The Prime Minister has instructed the ADF to extract Australians and their Afghan colleagues in the coming days. Australian forces will work with US counterparts and support multinational efforts to ensure those wishing to leave Afghanistan can do so safely.

Since 2013, Australia has granted more than 8500 visas to Afghans under the humanitarian program. This number includes more than 1800 visas to former interpreters, other locally engaged staff and their families. From April this year alone, 640 of these visas have been granted. This vital work continues.

Today, I want to assure former and current ADF personnel who served in Afghanistan — including their families — that their service mattered.

Our veterans should hold their heads high. They must always carry with them the knowledge that they did their nation and the world proud; that their fellow Australians are proud of them.

Military interventions can only go so far and only do so much. Afghanistan’s future is ultimately in the hands of the Afghans themselves.