Australia and Afghanistan are marking 50 years of diplomatic relations in 2019. The milestone comes as the nation in South-Central Asia celebrates 100 years since its independence.
No more has the historic relationship between the two nations been illustrated than in the military collaboration during the 'War on Terror'.
Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani recently stated that since 2014, more than 45,000 soldiers from the Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) had lost their lives fighting against terrorist groups across the country.
Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, continued to be the weapon of choice for insurgents and due to their cloaked nature, would likely remain a persistent and evolving threat.
Australia contributes $118 million a year to the NATO managed Afghan National Army Trust Fund, which includes funding of a number of devices to counter IEDs.
One of those was a device called Silvershield, a vehicle-mounted system developed and manufactured in Australia as part of the Redwing program, which provides protection against radio-controlled IEDs.
The Redwing program was initiated in 2014 in response to the need for a suitable protection system for the ANDSF. Australia has produced and exported more than 200,000 individual and vehicle-mounted systems to the country's armed forces since 2015.
REDWING counter-improvised explosive device (IED) protection systems Source: ADF
An initial 16,000 Silvershield units were delivered to Afghanistan in 2018 and an additional 14,000 will be manufactured and delivered this year.
Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds told SBS Pashto that the country's production of such devices had significantly benefited forces on the ground.
Dr Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is briefed on Counter Radio Controlled IED units known as the Redwing Project Source: AAP
“I was proud to visit the men and women from Brisbane-based Australian industry supplier L3-Micreo in April - who are managing the production, manufacture and delivery of an additional 14,000 Silvershield units to the Afghanistan National Defence and Security Forces this year,” she said.
“I saw firsthand the success of the collaboration between defence and industry, demonstrating the Australian industry’s ability to meet the challenge of high volume and time-critical manufacturing.
“This life-saving technology has helped to boost the confidence of our Afghan partners who are operating in a high threat environment on a daily basis.”
Since 2001, Australia’s mission in Afghanistan has been to support the Afghan government to help contain and repel the threat from terrorist organisations.
An Australian Defence Force Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle drives through Kabul, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 24, 2016. Source: AAP
Australia currently contributes around 300 personnel to the NATO Resolute Support mission through Operation Highroad, who provide training and advice to the ANDSF. 
Australian Defence Force Captain Angelina Durant (left) mentors the officer cadet trainers at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy in Kabul. Source: AAP
150 years of relations
Relations between Australia and Afghanistan can be traced back to the 1860s when Afghan cameleers first arrived in Australia.
For more than 50 years, the cameleers played a crucial role in ferrying supplies across the continent.
As a result, The Ghan passenger train - which runs across the country - was named in their honour.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in March 1969 when Lew Border was appointed as Australia's first Ambassador to Afghanistan, whilst a resident in Pakistan.
This statue by Gabriel Stark at Alice Springs railway station depicts an Afghan rider and his camel. Source: AAP
In 1975, Afghanistan appointed Ali Ahmad Popal as the country's first ambassador to Australia.
In 2006, Brett Hackett became the first resident Australian Ambassador to Afghanistan.
Civic ceremonies were held this year in both countries to mark five decades of relations, including an event at the Afghan Presidential Palace.
President Ghani congratulated the two nations and acknowledged the assistance provided by Australia, as well as paying homage to the 43 Australian servicemen who had lost their lives since the War on Terror began.
Afghan Ambassador to Australia H.E Wahidullah Waissi said it was vital to cherish the history between the two countries.
Afghan President Ghani (c) along with delegations from both countries commemorating 50 years of diplomatic relations. Source: SBS
“From a sea locked Australia to a landlocked Afghanistan, our partnership affects many lives because our partnership is around values of diplomats, values of the rule of law, values of empowering our women and values of being useful participants of the global process,” he said.
“The foundation of our relationship begins when Afghan cameleers arrived on the Australian continent over 150 years ago, from there they went on to contribute to the development of inland trade routes and became integral in the growth and shaping of the Australian outback.”
At an event to commemorate the milestone in Canberra, Australian governor-general David Hurley said relations with Afghanistan would only get stronger.
“There are many passages to the relationship, and I think at the moment people are immediately drawn to military operations in support of the Afghan government and its people. But as we heard, it runs a lot deeper than that to a relationship that really goes back to the 1950s, that's got many facets to it," he said.
"It's got a cultural aspect to it as a lot of Afghans living in Australia, and we have an educational aspect to it, so I think I went there are many facets to this relationship, and it's great that we can celebrate them.”
