Relationship dossier
Afghanistan
Australia
Relationship assessment
A period of Australian military and development engagement in Afghanistan was followed by a major policy shift after the Taliban takeover.
Afghanistan toward Australia
+15During the Islamic Republic period, Afghan authorities cooperated with Australia’s military presence and international engagement in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s return to power in 2021 changed the governing context, and the extent of subsequent Afghan government cooperation with Australia is unclear.
Australia toward Afghanistan
+30Australia contributed military forces to the international mission in Afghanistan and provided development and humanitarian assistance. After the Taliban takeover in 2021, Australia did not recognize the Taliban government and imposed sanctions targeting it.
Overall relationship
+20The relationship has included sustained Australian military and development engagement alongside cooperation with the Afghan Republic, but the Taliban takeover in 2021 altered the basis for bilateral engagement. Australia’s non-recognition and sanctions are significant features of the current relationship.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
During the Islamic Republic period, Afghan authorities cooperated with Australia’s military presence and international engagement in Afghanistan. Australia contributed forces and development and humanitarian assistance. The relationship changed substantially after the Taliban returned to power in 2021; Australia has not recognized the Taliban government and has imposed sanctions targeting it. The extent of practical government-to-government engagement since that change is unclear.
Key developments
Australia deployed forces to Afghanistan as part of the international military campaign.
Australia ended its military deployment in Afghanistan.
After the Taliban takeover, Australia did not recognize the Taliban government and imposed sanctions targeting it.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of Afghan government cooperation with Australia after the Taliban takeover is unclear.
- The extent and channels of current Australian government engagement with Taliban authorities are unclear.