CANBERRA - The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has withdrawn from its operating bases in Afghan Uruzgan province and handed over control to the Afghan military, according to a statement from the Department of Defence on Thursday.

Although independent operations for Afghan security forces do not mean the end of a role for the ADF in Uruzgan, it is understood that the Australian taskforce has withdrawn troops from all its forward operating bases in Uruzgan province.

This means Australian troops are no longer operating from Forward Operating Bases or Patrol Bases in Uruzgan province and have consolidated their presence at the Multi-National Base Tarin Kot.

Afghan security forces will now be fully responsible for security in Uruzgan.