The Australian Greens today join the community in honouring the service of the men and women who served in Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper and welcome them home.

"Around Australia today people have come together to say thank you to all those who put their lives on the line in Afghanistan, and to honour their service, and I join them," said Greens Leader Christine Milne.

The Australian Greens have renewed calls for an accelerated withdrawal of Australian defence personnel from Afghanistan following news of ‪increased tensions between President Obama and President Karsai. 

"It's clear these tensions are making the situation for troops in Afghanistan more precarious and dangerous, and that's why I again call for Australian troops to be brought home as quickly as is safely possible," Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne said.‪

"We must separate Australian defence policy from the American quagmire in Afghanistan.

The Greens are calling for an immediate moratorium on the deportation of Hazaras back to Afghanistan in light of the Federal Court’s ruling today.

“Now that the Federal Court has intervened the government must instantly commit to not sending any Afghan Hazaras back to Kabul,” Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

“There are 120 Hazaras who have been saved by this ruling after the Minister’s unlawful decision to earmark them for deportation.

After introducing a bill and appealing to both the Government and the opposition to establish a special visa class for Afghan interpreters, the Greens welcome the establishment of a program that recognises the important contribution of Afghan personnel who are at risk because of their work for our defence force.

“It is essential that we recognise the contribution of these brave people and I am glad to hear that the Government has followed the Greens’ lead on this issue,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said today.

The Australian Greens welcomed the withdrawal of Australian troops from remaining Forward Operating Bases in Uruzgan province in Afghanistan today, but cautioned that deadly clashes would continue as long as foreign combat forces were deployed.

The Greens spokesperson assisting on Defence, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said "this move is welcome but remains a long way off the goal of Afghan control of Afghan affairs".

The Australian Greens have introduced a bill today to create a special visa class to bring Afghan interpreters, who have worked with our troops in their home country, to Australia.

 "Recognising the amazing work of Afghan interpreters who risk their lives to keep our troops safe is the only right thing for us to do,” the Greens’ immigration spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

The Australian Greens have announced they will introduce a bill into the Senate that would create a special visa class enabling the permanent resettlement in Australia for Afghan interpreters and other at-risk employees who worked for the Coalition forces, along with their families.

 “Australia is indebted to the brave Afghan men and women who risk their lives by working with the Coalition armed forces in their home country,” Greens spokesperson for human rights, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.

This video is courtesy of ABC's Insiders. The website with the video and full transcript is available here:  http://www.abc.net.au/insiders/content/2012/s3581093.htm