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| Kevin Rudd and Therese Rein visit Australian troops in Afghanistan | Kevin Rudd and Therese Rein visit Australian troops in Afghanistan |
| (1 day later) | |
| The prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has made a surprise visit to Australia's troops in Afghanistan. | The prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has made a surprise visit to Australia's troops in Afghanistan. |
| But the bigger surprise was the presence of Therese Rein on the trip. They spent four hours on Saturday at the main Australian Defence Force base at Tarin Kowt, which will be closed by the end of 2013 with about 1000 troops returning home. | |
| Rein was given briefings on aid work and a viewing of military hardware. | Rein was given briefings on aid work and a viewing of military hardware. |
| It was Mr Rudd's sixth visit to the country as a politician. Addressing the troops at the base, he said he had come to say thank you for their sacrifice and effort. | It was Mr Rudd's sixth visit to the country as a politician. Addressing the troops at the base, he said he had come to say thank you for their sacrifice and effort. |
| "It's about time we brought you back," he said. | "It's about time we brought you back," he said. |
| But he said Australia had a vital continuing mission. About 300 troops will remain in Afghanistan after the end of the year. | But he said Australia had a vital continuing mission. About 300 troops will remain in Afghanistan after the end of the year. |
| These include 75 instructors and support staff and security personnel at the Afghan National Army (ANA) officer academy in Kabul and about 50 personnel in Kandahar advising the ANA. | These include 75 instructors and support staff and security personnel at the Afghan National Army (ANA) officer academy in Kabul and about 50 personnel in Kandahar advising the ANA. |
| Special forces are also expected to continue to have a role, which is still being worked out in talks with Afghan authorities. | Special forces are also expected to continue to have a role, which is still being worked out in talks with Afghan authorities. |
| The chief of the defence force, David Hurley, who was also on the tour, said building 200 schools in the province was one of the outstanding achievements of the Australian forces. | The chief of the defence force, David Hurley, who was also on the tour, said building 200 schools in the province was one of the outstanding achievements of the Australian forces. |
| Provincial governor Akhundzada, who met with Mr Rudd, said there had been an "80%" improvement in the province over a decade. | Provincial governor Akhundzada, who met with Mr Rudd, said there had been an "80%" improvement in the province over a decade. |
| But he warned "the war on terror won't end overnight". | But he warned "the war on terror won't end overnight". |
| Australia has had a permanent presence in Tarin Kowt since 2005 and about three-quarters of the base has now been dismantled. | Australia has had a permanent presence in Tarin Kowt since 2005 and about three-quarters of the base has now been dismantled. |
| The bulk of United States troops are due to leave the country by the end of 2014, when the Afghan forces take on full responsibility for security. | The bulk of United States troops are due to leave the country by the end of 2014, when the Afghan forces take on full responsibility for security. |
| The size of the international "training and enabling" force to be left behind is yet to be decided. | The size of the international "training and enabling" force to be left behind is yet to be decided. |
| Forty Australian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002, with 257 wounded, including 11 this year. | Forty Australian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002, with 257 wounded, including 11 this year. |
| • This article was amended on July 29 2013 to remove a reference to Therese Rein being the first spouse of a serving prime minister to visit a war zone. John Gorton's wife Bettina visited Australian troops in 1968 during the war in Vietnam. | |
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