PM demands action on insider attacks

Julia Gillard wears her helmet and body armour beside Lieutenant General Powell before take off in a RAAF Hercules C-31 from Kabul. Picture: David Caird Source: News Limited

JULIA Gillard has demanded a personal assurance from Afghan President Hamid Karzai that "everything that can be done will be done" to prevent further insider attacks against Australian troops.

Australia is also insisting on anti-corruption measures as it plans a $100 million-a-year aid program while Afghanistan prepares to take over security control from international forces in 2014.

In a flying visit to Afghanistan, the Prime Minister met Mr Karzai and the head of the International Security Assistance Force, Gen. John Allen, in Kabul before flying to Tarin Kowt where she addressed hundreds of Australian soldiers.

Ms Gillard said troop morale was strong despite the August attack which left three Diggers dead at the hand of someone in an Afghan soldier's uniform.

Senior Australian military personnel said the insurgents were growing weaker and losing support, and attacks were being driven into increasingly remote parts of the country.

Julia Gillard takes a tour around the at the Multi National Base in Tarin Kowot, Afghanistan. Picture: David Caird

ISAF deputy chief of staff of operations, Brig. Roger Noble, said the international forces believed they were putting the pieces in place to give the Afghanis an opportunity for the future, and the mission had built a strong foundation. "Do we think it will be perfect and without risk into the future? No," he said.

Ms Gillard said she wanted to be "in country" to discuss the transition in security to Afghan forces. She said her talks with Gen. Allen and Mr Karzai suggested Afghanistan was ready to take over security leadership in 2014.

In a surprise visit to the troops at their base in Tarin Kowt, in Oruzgan province, Ms Gillard linked their mission to the fight against terrorism sparked by the deaths of more than 100 Australians since the September 11, 2001, attack on the US.

"One reason I'm here today is just to say a big thank-you to you on behalf of the Australian nation for everything you do. We understand how hard it is.''

Julia Gillard reaches to pick from the salmon platter in the the shape of Australia with ADF personal during dinner at the Multi National Base in Tarin Kowot, Afghanistan. Picture: David Caird

Ms Gillard said the people of Australia were full of  "admiration for the way you kept going even when it's been really, really tough.''

The Prime Minister was briefed on the progress in the transition of security responsibility to Afghan forces by the head of the International Security Assistance Force US general John Allen.

International forces believe that while Afghanistan continues to confront major problems its security forces will be ready to take over in2014, the deadline for a handback of responsibilities.

Ms Gillard also met the governor of Oruzgan province and toured the hospital on the base.

Julia Gillard shares a laugh with Australian soldiers during dinner at the Multi National Base in Tarin Kowot, Afghanistan. Picture: David Caird

Ms Gillard's trip to Afghanistan immediately followed the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Bali bombings and she said it was "so meaningful to what's happening here in Afghanistan today''.

Citing the chance survival of revellers at Bali's Sari Club ten years ago because they had left the dance floor and the long recovery of burns victims, Ms Gillard some people for the rest of their lives would be impacted by the attack.

"When you think about those stories they really add up to something very powerful about what terrorism is,'' Ms Gillard said.

Ms Gillard said in one flash everything ordinary could be destroyed.

"And people for the rest of their lives are either grieving for someone they've lost or they are recovering from the injuries either physical or psychological or both,'' she said.

Ms Gillard said the terrorist attacks on Australians had all been linked to Afghanistan in that the perpetrators had been trained there.

Ms Gillard said fighting the global war on terror had brought Australian troops to Afghanistan so that terrorists would never again be trained in the country.

She said she wanted to be "in country'' to discuss the transition in security responsibility to Afghan forces.

Earlier in her meeting with President Karzai, the Afghan leader said he would do all he could to prevent further insider attacks against Australian soldiers.

Mr Karzai has also agreed to fight corruption, seen as one of the major stumbling to the development of the country after the full handover of power in 2014.

Ms Gillard said her talks with General Allen and Mr Karzai suggested Afghanistan was ready to take over security leadership in 2014.

"From the briefings I've received, I've been very clearly told that the mission we've defined for ourselves is on track,'' Ms Gillard said.

Ms Gillard said Afghanistan was a very poor country and it was clear Australian would have an ongoing role as part of the NATO train, advise, assist mission and Australia had left the door open on a possible continuing role for Special Forces.

The lightning stop comes before the Prime Minister arrives in India for her first official visit there.

It is the second time Ms Gillard has made a surprise visit to Afghanistan. In November 2011, she visited Australian troops on her way back from a G20 meeting in Cannes.

Ms Gillard  will  seek to improve Australia's ties with India during a three-day visit in which trade links - including possible future uranium sales - will figure strongly.

Ms Gillard is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on Monday for what is being billed as her major bilateral international trip for the year.

She will be working hard to get the relationship on track after a troubled few years that included racist attacks on Indian students in Melbourne, which unleashed a firestorm of anti-Australian sentiment in the South Asian nation.

On Tuesday she is to visit two of Delhi's slum areas, home to some of the world's poorest people.

On Wednesday,.Ms Gillard meets Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President Pranab Mukherjee and other senior government figures for talks on region security issues, trade and investment.

India is Australia's fourth-largest export market, with total two-way trade valued at more than $20 billion.

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