Scott Morrison has hit back at criticisms of sending Australian troops to Afghanistan over the last 20 years.
Despite the decades-long campaign to rid the region of the Taliban and train local forces to overcome future insurgencies, many are now saying it was all for nothing.
The Taliban have retaken control of the country in a matter of days just as international forces were preparing to leave.
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Forty-one Aussies died during the 20-year war and the Prime Minister rejects the idea that they died in vain.
In an interview with Channel 9, Scott Morrison said: "We went there to stop Osama bin Laden and to stop Al-Qaeda having a base of operations in Afghanistan. And that's what was achieved.
"We were there in the cause of freedom. And every Australian who fell in that cause. An Australian who, of course, falls in that cause is a national hero.
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"And for that, we are forever thankful and they've died in a great cause."
In a separate interview on the same day, Mr Morrison explained how Australia's involvement in Afghanistan was about defending 'freedom'.
"Freedom is always worth it. Fighting for it. Whatever the outcome. But importantly, the reason that we went there was to track down Osama Bin Laden and to ensure that we denied al-Qaeda a base of operations out of Afghanistan," he told the ABC.
"And there has been so much blood and treasure lost in this very difficult campaign over 20 years. And our thanks are always to Australians who serve. They don't get to decide the mission. They don't get to decide the place.
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"Those decisions are taken at another level and they go and serve and they faithfully serve and they do it with great courage and great commitment to their country and the values that Australia represent it's, which is freedom."
The Australian Cabinet's National Security Committee has approve a plan that will rescue any Aussies stuck in Afghanistan as well as Afghans who once served with the ADF.
The military plan will involve more than 250 troops, an RAAF C-17 aircraft and other Defence assets in order to carry out the objective.
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Due to the heightened tension at Kabul airport as many desperately try to flee the country, it's unknown when they'll be able to land.
The Taliban launched a major offensive last week and managed to take control of the Presidential Palace.
They've already begun talks with officials about taking control of the government after President Ashraf Ghani fled the country over fears of 'bloodshed'.
Featured Image Credit: ABC NewsTopics: Australia