Trump asks Australia to send more troops to Afghanistan: report – Starts at 60
The Pentagon has reportedly put forward an official request for Australia to send more troops to Afghanistan in a bid to boost security and salvage the countrys shaky government.
The Weekend Australian reported the US hopes Aussie troops will take up training and mentoring for Afghan forces, just as they did before the majority of our forces withdrew from the country three years ago.
The government is said to be considering the request as allied forces look at ways to stabilise the volatile state and drive out extremist organisations.
Australian troops are renowned in the Middle East for their training and mentoring programs.
However, there are concerns around the risk of green on blue attacks, where Afghan soldiers turn on their trainers and gun them down before fleeing or turning their weapons on themselves.
Seven Australian soldiers have been killed in green on blue attacks in Afghanistan.
During our 12-year mission, 40 Australian soldiers were killed and 261 were seriously wounded.
Labor is already showing signs it supports the request, with Shadow Defence Spokesman Richard Marle telling Sky News we cannot afford for Afghanistan to crumble.
The starting point here is that Afghanistan matters weve got a direct interest in that country, he said.
This is the place where going back in the late 90s it was a haven for terrorist training and as people well know a number of the Bali bombers received training in Afghanistan leading up to the bombing in 2002.
He said a recent trip to the country made it clear security was failing and extremists groups were making their mark on the region.
It is the case that al-Qaida is having a greater presence in that country. ISIS also is present there. The country is experiencing an insurgency.
We cant afford to see Afghanistan lost.
The government is yet to comment publicly on the request.
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Trump asks Australia to send more troops to Afghanistan: report - Starts at 60