Abbott declares end of Afghan war

Tony Abbott has used his first trip to Afghanistan as Prime Minister to signal an end to the 12-year mission, conceding a clear victory was beyond reach.

But he declared it a job well done and that it was time for the troops to come home.

Accompanied by Labor leader Bill Shorten, in what is the only bipartisan visit since Australia first sent troops 12 years ago, Mr Abbott said he did not believe victory could be claimed but that a positive difference was made.

"Australia's longest war is ending, not with victory, not with defeat, but with, we hope, an Afghanistan that is better for our presence here," the Prime Minister told assembled troops at the Tarin Kowt base.

"Our armed forces and our officials have done their duty. That duty never ends, although our duty here has."

The Abbott Government is also likely to adopt a hard line towards aid for Afghanistan after the last Australians leave next month.

Though the previous Labor government declared Australia would maintain a strong aid presence beyond the withdrawal, it is understood the coalition Government was not so keen.

There will be some assistance but a portion of the more than $4 billion in cuts to the aid budget the coalition promised before the election would be at the expense of Afghanistan. It is in recognition that with the Western forces gone, the country will resort to its centuries-old practice of being controlled by warlords.

One condition the Government is keen to place on the spending of aid money is that it has some say in how the funds are disbursed. In post-occupation Afghanistan, where the Taliban is expected to assume a dominant role, that is not considered a reality.

Mr Abbott visited Afghanistan three times as Opposition leader, the most of any in that position. This visit, conducted with the now customary surprise and secrecy, will be his last and the last of any Australian prime minister.

Australia's commitment to Afghanistan has lasted four prime ministers and six Opposition leaders. Forty men have been killed and more than 200 wounded and it has cost $8 billion.

Australia still has about 1000 personnel at Tarin Kowt, the base in Oruzgan province. All are due home by Christmas. Beyond that, an undefined number of Special Forces will remain. They will relocate to Kandahar and Kabul and act as trainers.