Remaining Aussies could leave Afghanistan
Defence Minister Peter Dutton has confirmed the government is working to extract remaining Australians in Afghanistan as the Taliban offensive accelerates.
Insurgents have taken control of 12 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals, making rapid territorial gains, with the US and Australian forces withdrawing.
Mr Dutton said Defence and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials were working to securely remove remaining Australians from the war-torn nation.
"Already we have pulled significant numbers of people out," he told the Nine Network on Friday.
"We'll continue to do that, particularly those that have provided support to our troops."
The last Australian troops and diplomats departed Kabul in mid-June as allied troops withdrew from Afghanistan.
Mr Dutton said the time frame for getting the remaining people out would depend on individual circumstances.
"Some people don't want to come out because they're performing work for an NGO or they're involved in some business still. That will be an issue for them," the defence minister said.
"But for those that want to come out, DFAT will be working with those people now."
The UK is deploying about 600 troops to help British citizens leave the country.
The United States plans to send in 3000 personnel to help evacuate some personnel from its embassy in Kabul.
Mr Dutton said Australia's commitment to Afghanistan spanned two decades.
"Nobody in Australia was saying that we should stay there for another 20 years," he said.
"Once the United States and other Allied partners there pulled out it was impossible for us with such a small force to stay."
