On Tuesday 12 May 2009, Mr Raspal Khosa (Research Fellow, Australian Strategic Policy Institute) addressed members and guests of the Institute on 'Operation SLIPPER: the Australian Defence Force in southern Afghanistan'.
Synopsis:
The Australian Defence Force has deployed 1,090 personnel in Afghanistan as part of Operation SLIPPER: Australia's contribution to Coalition efforts against international terrorism and, more specifically, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) armed state-building mission in Afghanistan. Most of the ADF personnel are based in southern Afghanistan where they are engaged in a range of war-fighting, protected reconstruction, support, training and mentoring tasks. The Taliban-dominated insurgency is a primary focus for President Barack Obama, who has announced a comprehensive Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy following a wholesale review of the controversial state-building mission. The US now has as its main goal to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaeda and its safe havens in Pakistan's tribal belt.
[IISS-Asia is pleased to acknowledge the financial support of the Australian Department of Defence for this seminar series.]
