Australia committed long term to Afghanistan -Downer

KABUL, June 30 (Reuters) Australia is committed to remaining part of an international military force in Afghanistan for as long as necessary, Alexander Downer, Australia's foreign minister, said during an unannounced visit today.

Australia currently has nearly 1,000 troops serving with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for Afghanistan after doubling the contingent last month.

''The relationship with Afghanistan... for us is a strong one,'' Downer told a news conference in Kabul.

''We very strongly support not just the military efforts made against the Taliban but (also) the efforts being made for reconstruction and development cooperation.'' A sizeable portion of the Australian contingent is made up of special forces and most operate in southern Uruzgan province, where a resurgent Taliban and soaring opium production have made security very fragile.

''The Taliban should be very wary of tangling with our special forces in Uruzugan,'' Downer said. ''They are an extremely highly trained, well-equipped professional force. I think the Taliban are learning that.'' Downer, who earlier held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, defended foreign forces against criticism too many civilians were being killed in anti-Taliban operations.

''There was quite a lot of discussion about civilian casualties,'' Downer said, adding: ''I was very happy with my conversation with President Karzai about this.

''It is very, very foolish for any person of goodwill to try to create some sort of moral equivalence between NATO and what the Taliban does.

''We will make every effort to avoid civilian casualties, against the Taliban, which is making every effort to cause civilian casualties.'' Nearly 300 civilians have been killed in operations led by foreign forces this year alone, according to government officials, residents and aid groups.

Scores more have been killed in Taliban suicide and roadside bomb attacks.

Afghanistan is going through its bloodiest period since the Taliban's fall and this year is regarded as a crunch time for all sides involved in the conflict.

REUTERS SBC PM1606