AUSTRALIA'S mission in Afghanistan is changing, with troops winding back on partnered operations as the Afghan National Army takes over security responsibility, Prime Minister Julia Gillard says.
Ms Gillard, who visited Afghanistan on Sunday, says she raised concerns about so-called "insider attacks" with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and sought assurance that everything was being done to stamp them out.
She also raised concerns about corruption, seeking assurances that aid was not being diverted through corrupt practices.
Ms Gillard also met Australian soldiers at the base at Tarin Kowt, assuring them their work was valued and appreciated by the people of Australia.
Wearing body armour and helmet, and accompanied by a close protection detail, Ms Gillard arrived in Afghanistan aboard a RAAF C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.
In Kabul she visited President Karzai and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) commander US General John Allen.
At Tarin Kowt, she met Australian commanders and Oruzgan province governor Amir Mohammad Akhundzada before attending a barbecue with Australian soldiers in the "Poppy's" recreation area, named after Trooper David "Poppy" Pearce, who was killed in October 2007.
Ms Gillard said General Allen and President Karzai assured her Afghanistan was on track to take full responsibility for security by the end of 2014.
General Allen pointed out there were still two years to get the Afghan National Army and police up to speed.
In Oruzgan province, Australian troops have been mentoring the ANA's 4th Brigade, with one kandak (battalion) recently declared fully capable of conducting independent operations and the other three set to reach that stage by the end of the year.
"The assessment here in Oruzgan province is that what we are doing here is also on track," she told reporters.
"Now that means that there is still hard work to do but here for our troops, we will increasingly see, as we move through transition, our troops no longer engaging in partnered operations but moving to an advising and assisting role."
Ms Gillard said President Karzai had talked about the measures being taken to deal with insider attacks, which have surged this year as rogue Afghan soldiers and police have opened fire on their coalition partners.
"Clearly these have been tragic and disturbing incidents. They are designed to corrode morale and everything needs to be done on the Afghan side to deal with the possibility of insider attacks," she said.
Asked what she told people who want Australia to withdraw immediately, she said she gained insight from families of soldiers killed.
"They say to me, without exception, that we best honour the memory of their loved one by seeing the mission through," she said.
"They are unbelievably strong people and they make that point very forcefully."
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