KABUL: Australian ambassador to Afghanistan Brett Hackett has said Afghans are laborious and his countrymen have great respect for them.
Hackett took charge of his office some two months back as the first ambassador from Australia to the war-battered country.
In an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News the other day, the Australian ambassador said the presence of Afghans in Australia was vital for the country economic development.
He said: "Afghans reach wherever their services are needed, and this trait of them have crucial role in Australia economic uplift. Our countrymen have great respect for Afghans." Hackett said entry of Afghans to his country started some one and a half century back, but such process expedited recently. Not showing the exact number of Afghans in Australia, he said thousands of them were legally living in his country.
He said like other foreigners Afghans did not confine only to large cities, but move everywhere in search of jobs. Hackett said majority of the people who sought illegal entry to Australia, most of them introduced themselves as Afghans, but later investigations had revealed that they were not Afghans.
Confirming that some Afghans have been jailed while entering to his country, he said: "The Afghans who violate law and principles are imprisoned." The ambassador termed opening of Australia embassy in Afghanistan a good omen for Afghans.
He said both Australia and Afghanistan enjoyed a long-time relation. Hackett said such exemplary ties were the reason behind opening of Australian embassy in Afghanistan. He stressed continuous aid for Afghanistan and also recalled his country previous assistance for the landlocked country.
Hackett recalled Australia $110 million aid for Afghanistan in Berlin conference. He said Australia had also announced $150 million aid for Afghanistan in London conference for the next five years. He said: "Australia wants to help in restoring peace to Afghanistan and also help in reconstruction process." Hackett said about 600 Australian forces were busy in brining peace to Afghanistan under the NATO-led ISAF.
He said great number of their forces were in Uruzgan province and some of them were engineers, who were busy in taking part in reconstruction. He said poppy cultivation and administrative corruption were great challenges to Afghanistan.
He said Afghanistan was needed international help to meet these challenges. Hackett said enhancing relation was job of the two countries, but said international community might also play vital role in this regard. Australia is holding world cricket championship, and has gained same title in 2003.
Regarding cricket, Hackett said: " I am wondered how great number of Afghans don`t understand cricket." Hackett said his country had cricket academy where Afghans might get good training. He said cricket should be paid due attention in Afghanistan.
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