Media note – Office of the Spokesperson, USA, 15 August 2021
Joint Statement on Afghanistan
The below reflects the list of signatory countries as of August 16.
The following is the text of a joint statement on Afghanistan released by the following: Albania, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Latvia, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta , Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Moldova, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Republic of Cyprus, Romania, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Yemen and Zambia.
Given the deteriorating security situation, we support, are working to secure, and call on all parties to respect and facilitate, the safe and orderly departure of foreign nationals and Afghans who wish to leave the country. Those in positions of power and authority across Afghanistan bear responsibility—and accountability—for the protection of human life and property, and for the immediate restoration of security and civil order.
Afghans and international citizens who wish to depart must be allowed to do so; roads, airports and border crossing must remain open, and calm must be maintained.
The Afghan people deserve to live in safety, security and dignity. We in the international community stand ready to assist them.
Media statement – Prime Minister, Minister for Defence, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women, 16 Aug 2021
Statement on Afghanistan
The situation on the ground in Kabul, as in the rest of Afghanistan, is evolving rapidly.
As in any crisis situation, the Australian Government’s priority is to ensure the safety of its citizens. We have over 130 Australians in Afghanistan, working in the UN, NGOs, and elsewhere, and we are working to bring them and their families home.
We are also assisting those who have been granted humanitarian visas, and others who are in the process of applying for protection.
We are closely connected to the US, UK, Canada, and other allies and partners.
As a partner committed for many years to helping Afghanistan build its future, we are deeply concerned at the potential for further loss of life and suffering.
The Taliban must cease all violence against civilians, and adhere to international humanitarian law and the human rights all Afghans are entitled to expect, in particular women and girls. The Taliban will be held fully accountable for any killing or other mistreatment of Afghan military and other security forces who have surrendered or been captured. Afghan Government officials and elected political leaders are fully entitled to be treated with safety, respect and dignity.
The Taliban’s leadership is responsible and accountable for the conduct of its forces.
Those preparing to leave the country must be able to do so without threat or hinderance. We will continue to work with key partners in the days ahead to enable this safe passage.
Media release – Senators Nick McKim, Janet Rice & Jordan Steele-John, August 16, 2021
Australia must respond to Afghanistan crisis
The Australian Government should provide immediate assistance to Afghan people both on the ground in Afghanistan and by providing protection here in Australia.
“Australia should immediately offer permanent protection visas for up to 20,000 people from Afghanistan who are at risk of persecution from the Taliban,” Greens Immigration and Citizenship spokesperson Senator Nick McKim said.
“The Canadian government has recently announced that it will do this, and we should follow suit.”
“These places should be in addition to our regular humanitarian intake, and include protection for people like female leaders, human rights advocates, LGBTIQ+ people, alumni of Australian Universities, journalists, Afghan government workers and people from ethnic and religious minorities previously persecuted by the Taliban.”
“Australia’s actions have contributed to the growing threat to many Afghan people from the Taliban, and we have a moral obligation to provide sanctuary for some of the people who will suffer as a result
“Our government should provide evacuation assistance where possible, and also extend permanent protection visas to Afghan citizens who are already here in Australia on temporary visas.”
“This is a crisis, and we urgently need to respond. Australia’s military involvement significantly contributed to the political instability we are now witnessing.”
Greens Foreign Affairs spokesperson Senator Janet Rice said:
“We must also urgently increase aid and assistance to people in Afghanistan.”
“Australia must act as a good global citizen and do what we can to support people on the ground, especially women and girls who face a huge curtailing of their rights, living through this dire situation.”
“The Australian Government has for months ignored urgent calls for evacuation flights and visas for translators and diplomats, and now it may be too late to ensure their safety. We owe it to the people who helped us to now help them – it is a moral imperative for our government to finally act as quickly as possible.”
Greens Peace and Disarmament spokesperson Senator Jordon Steele-John said:
“Australia needs to urgently take action. Australia’s 20 year involvement in Afghanistan has contributed to this moment. Australia must not abandon the people of Afghanistan at this moment.”
“This crisis we are now in is yet another example of how violent wars are failing people. We’ve seen it in Vietnam, and now Afghanistan. We must find peaceful, non-violent solutions to increasing international tensions.”
Media release – Senator Jacqui Lambie, 17 August 2021
Botched withdrawal from Afghanistan heartbreaking for Australian vets
Chaotic scenes at Kabul airport are a tragic end to a war that was supposed to bring freedom and democracy to people in Afghanistan.
Today Senator Lambie reminded the nearly 39,000 Australian soldiers who served in Afghanistan that their service was not in vain.
“Afghanistan vets are hurting today. They’ve been through a lot of pain, a lot of work, to see the country they tried to save crumble to pieces,” she said. “To those of you who are struggling with a lot of grief and disappointment right now: what’s happening is not your fault.
“The ideals that you fought for were the right ideals. You fought to send girls to school. You fought to stamp out terrorism. You fought to give Afghanistan a democratic government. As Australian soldiers, you did what you were supposed to do. This failure does not rest on your shoulders.
“Politicians are the ones who made the wrong calls in this war, time and time again.”
When Parliament returns, Senator Lambie will move to establish a Senate inquiry on Australia’s role in the Afghanistan war.
“We might be withdrawing our troops now, but who knows what’s going to happen down the track? We need to know what went wrong so we don’t keep repeating the same mistakes as the past,” she said.
“Australia has been at war for twenty years, and in a matter of days we’re back to square one. We need to figure out how the choices we made got us to this point. We have to stop anything like this from happening again in the future.”
Free counselling is available to Australian veterans and their families through Open Arms, on 1800 011 046.
