31st August 2011
Close cooperation on Afghanistan and Pakistan: visit by UK Special Representative
Mark Sedwill, the UK’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, visited Canberra last week. He is a former British Ambassador in Kabul, and was NATO Civilian Representative alongside General Petraeus until earlier this year. So he was already well known to many of the Australian interlocutors on whom he called. I took him to see a range of politicians, senior officials and military commanders. He appeared before the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee, and carried out an extensive programme of media engagements.
Britain and Australia work closely together on Afghanistan, along with our other allies. There is a high degree of mutual respect and cooperation between our armed forces. and we have much in common in our approach. We are both working to support the Afghan National Army and Police Forces as they transition towards taking the lead in providing security for the Afghan population from 2014.
Very sadly, whilst Mark was here the Australian government announced the loss of Private Matthew Lambert, the 29th Digger to die in Afghanistan. Mark was able to convey our condolences to the Chief of the Defence Force.