Concern for Australian troops after Musharraf resignation
Updated
![The Australian foreign minister says Pakistan stability has direct consequences for Australian security forces in Afghanistan. [Reuters]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/base/aus_afghan_troops_rtr_06.jpg?<BR> "The Australian foreign minister says Pakistan stability has direct consequences for Australian security forces in Afghanistan. [Reuters]")
The Australian foreign minister says Pakistan stability has direct consequences for Australian security forces in Afghanistan. [Reuters]
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says he is concerned about what implications recent political developments in Pakistan may have for Australia's troops in Afghanistan.
Monday's resignation of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, allied with the United States in its fight against terrorism, has sparked concerns of regional instability.
Mr Smith says the Australian Government has been worried about the political situation in Pakistan for some time.
He says the future stability of Pakistan's leadership has direct consequences for troops in the border area with Afghanistan.
"Certainly now what we want to see in Pakistan is a period of political stability to enable the Government and the Parliament of Pakistan to address the serious issues that Pakistan faces, including security issues, because they have very direct consequences for the nearly thousand troops that we have in Afghanistan abutting the Afghanistan, Pakistan border," Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith has also reiterated Australia's willingness to provide more support to Pakistan to help achieve regional control over terrorist groups.
He says he has asked his counterpart in Pakistan for increased dialogue with Pakistan's Government over assistance Australia may be able to provide.
"We've indicated to the Pakistani Government that we're very happy to render whatever assistance we can in terms of helping the Pakistan Government meet the difficulties they face," he said.
Although the provision of combat troops has previously been ruled out, Mr Smith says the Government could provide technical and developmental assistance.
"There is a range of expertise that we have, whether it is in the management of their parliamentary democracy, whether it is in the development of their systems of democracy or whether it is giving technical advice to the difficult way in which a modern armed force needs to combat terrorism," he said.
Mr Musharraf, who seized control in a 1999 coup, resigned after moves from the coalition Government to impeach him.
