General Baryalai and Afghan Ambassador with Defence Minister Senator Hill

A senior Afghan Delegation led by Lieutenant-General Atiqullah Baryalai Deputy Defence Minister of Afghanistan visited Australia from 30 April to 6 May 2003.

The Deputy Defence Minister was accompanied by General Azimullah Esmati Deputy Minister for Frontiers Affairs, Mr Mohammad Kabir Farahi Head of the Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ali Asem Head of the Second Division of the National Security Directorate, Mr Alhaj Ghulam Ali Timar General-Manager of Kabul International Airport and Mr Akmal Ghani Ahmadzai, Director of the First Political Division (South East Asia, Pacific and Oceana) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Afghan delegation with Defence Secretary Richard Smith and Air Marshall Angus Houston

The purpose of this official visit to Australia was to discuss Australia’s contribution in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, including the rebuilding of the Afghan National Army, Technical Cooperation Projects which covers areas of immigration, border control, computerisation of the new visa system of Afghanistan.

The major highlights of the visit included meetings with Senator the Honourable Robert Hill, Minister for Defence and Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Honourable Philip Ruddock Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Secretaryof Defence Mr Richard Smith and Secretary of DIMIA Mr Bill Farmer.

The visiting delegation with the Afghan Ambassador

During the meetings, Australia’s defence officials showed keen interest in the continuation of Australian military support to Afghanistan.

The delegation attended roundtable discussions with DIMIA, Foreign Affairs and Ausaid officials regarding the Technical Cooperation project.

Afghan Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand H.E. Mahmoud Saikal hosted a dinner reception in honour of the visiting delegation. The reception was attended by senior officials from Foreign Affairs, Defence and Immigration Departments, Ausaid and diplomatic representatives from countries in the Asia Pacific region.

During their several sessions, the delegation was presented with the overview of Australia’s Legal Framework and approach to Border Control, including compliance, character issues, alert lists, entry systems, passenger cards, fraudulent documents, system support for Entry and Migration process.

The delegation also held meetings with senior officials from the Office of National Assessments, Australian Customs and Australia’s Ambassadors for Terrorism and People Smuggling Issues.

Renown Afghan academic Professor Amin Saikal, Director of Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University, hosted a dinner reception in honour of the Afghan delegation. The delegation also met with members of the Advisory Board of the Cultural and Educational Centre of Afghanistan.

The delegation met with the Afghan community representatives in Canberra and attended an Afghan Community gathering in Sydney.

On the 6th May, General Baryalai and his delegation held a joint press conference with Minister the Hon Philip Ruddock at the Parliament House. During the conference a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on issues relating to irregular migration and people smuggling. Also, the first new Afghan visa was issued to Minister Ruddock.