Fed: Australian troops arrive in Afghanistan

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2001
Fed: Australian troops arrive in Afghanistan

By Sharon Mathieson

CANBERRA, Dec 3 AAP - About 30 Australian SAS troops arrived in Afghanistan today to
join the United States Marines in a likely ground assault on the Taliban's last southern
Afghanistan stronghold, Kandahar.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said an advance party of Special Air Services (SAS) troops
arrived in southern Afghanistan this morning (AEDT), with the remainder of the 150 Australian
soldiers committed to the war on terrorism expected to join coalition forces tomorrow
or Wednesday.

The US Marine base in southern Afghanistan is within striking distance of Kandahar,
the Taliban's spiritual centre and last major stronghold.

Senator Hill said the troops would operate under Australian command, with their activities
coordinated through a coalition command centre.

He could not confirm the duration of the operation but expected it to continue for some months.

"The advance party of Australian troops has arrived in Afghanistan and the remaining
party will be arriving within the next day or so," Senator Hill said.

"The Australian forces are well prepared and trained for these tasks.

"We wish them well in this important mission."

At least one Australian officer arrived yesterday at the US Marine base outside Kandahar.

Spokesman for the US Marine task force in Afghanistan, Captain Stewart Upton, said
Australian, British and German liaison officers had teamed up with the Marines.

"There are British, there are Germans, there are Australians and there are more to
come," Capt Upton told reporters.

He said the number of non-American officers at that stage was less than five.

The arrival of Australian, British and German troops may mark a shift in the importance
of the anti-terror coalition.

Until now, coalition forces fighting against terrorism have been overwhelmingly American,
although British warplanes have taken part in airstrikes and about 100 Royal Marines secured
an air base north of Kabul.

US bombers pounded Kandahar today, paving the way for an expected ground attack as
the US military said the battle for Kandahar may be nearing its culmination.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said the US believed Osama bin Laden was in south-eastern
Afghanistan and it was a matter of time before he was found and the Taliban defeated.

The US government launched its war on the Taliban on October 7 to punish it for sheltering
bin Laden, the Saudi-born militant it blames for the September suicide attacks on New
York and Washington that killed about 3,900 people.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said he had been briefed on Australia's
commitment to the war by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and warned Australia to be
prepared for casualties.

"When we commit troops abroad we must accept the possibility of casualties," Mr Rudd
said on Channel Seven.

"This is a very, very difficult and delicate stage of the operation."

AAP sm/sw/ph/sb

KEYWORD: TERROR AUST NIGHTLEAD

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