Australia’s High Commissioner Barry O’Farrell on Saturday asserted that India chairing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) gives Australia “great confidence”. He also expressed concerns on the Afghanistan crisis and people who have been left behind in the crisis-hit country.
While speaking to media, O’Farrell said Australia has closed its embassy and withdrawn its staff. However, it “regrettably” still has people in Kabul who want to come to Australia and the Australian govt is trying to work out how best to effect that after the airport explosion.
Talking about the evacuation operation carried out by Australia in Afghanistan, he said, “Everybody is heartbroken over what’s going on in Afghanistan. Australia had to suspend its evacuation two days ago due to the (airport) explosion. We have evacuated 4,000 people. Clearly, there are more to go.”
The Australian High Commissioner to India further opined that the world is working towards a solution regarding Afghanistan. India, happily, is chairing the United Nations Security Council, which gives countries like Australia great confidence that hopefully, a solution can be found, he added.
When asked about the resumption of cricketing activities in the wake of declining Covid cases, O’Farrell said, “I think it’s a sign of a return to normalcy. We are wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. Australia is largely locked down currently. We have to learn to live with COVID.”
Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison said US and British forces had helped Australian troops over nine days to evacuate some 4,100 people, including 3,200 Australians and Afghan citizens with Australian visas.
The prime minister said Australia had completed its evacuation operations and was now in a “post-evacuation phase”.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the Australian authorities had sent warnings in text messages to Australian citizens and those in the area of the attack.
Australia deployed 39,000 troops over two decades as part of US and NATO-led operations in Afghanistan. Dutton said Australian Defence Force troops had now halted evacuations because of the dangers on the ground.
