Australia considers its return to Afghanistan after May withdrawal

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne confirmed May's abrupt shut down of the embassy and quick exit by officials was only a temporary measure.

"Our interim diplomatic arrangements were always expected to be temporary, with the intention of resuming a permanent presence once circumstances permit," a spokesperson told AAP on Wednesday.

"That remains our position."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison later said Australia's re-entry to Afghanistan would occur as soon as it was safe to do so.

"We always have made it clear that were we in a position to safely have Australians in Afghanistan providing a support to our efforts there then we would," he said in a press conference at The Lodge on Wednesday afternoon.

"And so, were it safe to do that, we always have been open to the opportunity to pursue that."

Dr Niamatullah Ibrahimi, an expert in international relations at La Trobe University, said there's a feeling among the Afghan people that they had been forgotten.

He warned the deteriorating situation in the country had the potential to spillover into other regions closer to home.

"Everything that has been promised to the local communities over the past 20 years, now seems to be falling apart," he said.

"There is a feeling that the international community, the US and others like Australia, do not care.

"I think a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan will also have a very dramatic, inspirational effect in terms of inspiring other [extremist] groups around the world."

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The embassy closure has come into sharp focus as hundreds of Afghan interpreters who worked for Australia urgently apply for protection visas to escape reprisal attacks from the Taliban.

Mr Morrison said Australia was making process with the visa applications.

At least 252 Afghan nationals and their families have been brought to safety.

Labor's foreign affairs spokesperson Senator Penny Wong said the situation had been deteriorating rapidly and daily reports were coming through of threats against Afghan staff.

The government needed to come up with a plan and fast, she urged.

"The Morrison government withdrew all Australian staff and closed the embassy in Kabul without explaining how it will continue to support Afghanistan's stability and development," Senator Wong said in a statement.

"There wasn't the proper planning to ensure swift visa pathways for Afghan interpreters and local staff who have been vital to Australian operations in Afghanistan.

"The minister needs to make up her mind and stop leaving Afghan staff behind."

Dr Ibrahimi said the government could also consider taking on a larger role in the international community in terms of its humanitarian response.

Thousands of ethnic Hazara asylum seekers who had earlier fled the country remained waiting in Malaysia and Indonesia for years despite being granted refugee status by the United Nations, he said.

"Afghanistan really is the place where a middle power like Australia can play quite a constructive role in terms of maintaining international interest in and dedicating some diplomatic capital," Dr Ibrahimi said.

"If left on its own, the situation in Afghanistan will bite back the international community."

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