Tony Abbott has backed an ongoing deployment of Australian special forces troops to Afghanistan. Source: AAP
OPPOSITION Leader Tony Abbott has confirmed coalition backing for a continuing commitment of Australian special forces soldiers in Afghanistan.
Mr Abbott said what Australia had achieved in more than a decade in Afghanistan had been important for the war-torn nation, for Australia and for the peace and security of the western world.
Under current plans, Australia will withdraw most of the 1650 troops in Afghanistan by the end of the year.
But the government has left open the prospect of an ongoing commitment of special forces in a training or counter-terrorist role, subject to negotiation of an appropriate status of forces agreement with the US and Afghan governments.
"My understanding is that the current government stands ready to extend the special forces commitment to Afghanistan should that be agreed upon by the western alliance and the Afghan government," Mr Abbott told reporters in Cairns.
"The coalition certainly would back an ongoing special forces commitment to Afghanistan provided there is the appropriate agreement in place."
He said recent reports of bad behaviour by defence personnel did not diminish what had been achieved in Afghanistan.
"Everyone deplores bad behaviour," he said.
"We particularly deplore bad behaviour from those we look up to but nothing can detract from the sacrifice of the 39 Australians who have given their lives in Afghanistan and nothing can detract from the magnificent effort of our armed forces in that country."
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