September 11: On the ground with John Howard in Washington 9news.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 9news.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Share on Twitter
The federal government says it has no plans to put Afghans who helped Australian troops on evacuation flights that are being planned by the United States in the next fortnight.
The US will begin flying out Afghans who assisted its forces during the 20-year long war in Afghanistan before the end of the month, sending them to a third country while they await visa processing.
The number of those being evacuated is still unclear but it is believed some 70,000 could potentially be flown out to countries including nearby Uzbekistan, Tajikistan or the UAE.
READ MORE
John McCarthy, who served as Australia s ambassador to the US between 1995 to 1997, says Australia should put its Afghan staff on those flights given the logistics of the exercise have already been worked out by the Americans.
Share on Twitter
Thousands of interpreters who aided US and NATO forces in Afghanistan will be evacuated beginning in late July, Washington announced Wednesday, as Taliban insurgents captured a strategic crossing on the Pakistan border from government forces.
In what the White House dubbed Operation Allies Refuge, the interpreters and their families are likely to be taken first to US overseas military bases or possibly third countries before resettlement in the United States or elsewhere.
Many fear retaliation by the Taliban, who are seeking to regain control of the government in Kabul after the departure of US troops before the end of August.
Former senior diplomats join calls for more help for Australia s Afghan staff sbs.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sbs.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.