Australia to shut down its embassy in Kabul on Friday

KABUL (Pajhwok): Australia has announced closing its embassy in Kabul within days in light of the imminent international military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

A joint statement from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Foreign Minister Marise Payne said the embassy building would be closed on Friday.

The statement added: "DFAT officials will visit Afghanistan regularly from a residential post elsewhere in the region."

The measure would be temporary, said the federal government, which hoped to resume a permanent presence in Kabul once circumstances allowed.

Citing security concerns for embassy staff if they remained in the country, the statement said; "The departure of the international forces and hence Australian forces from Afghanistan over the next few months brings with it an increasingly uncertain security environment…”

According to the statement, the Australian government has been advised that security arrangements could not be provided to support its ongoing diplomatic presence.

Australia pledged to honour its development and humanitarian commitments to Afghanistan in the coming years, including a bilateral development assistance commitment of $200 million over 2021-2024.

"We remain committed to supporting a just, durable and resilient peace arrangement that is led and owned by Afghanistan," the statement added.

pr/mud