Australian army chief says peace not close with Taliban

The chief of the Australian Defence Force says he does not think a political settlement with the Taliban insurgents is close in Afghanistan.

Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston says the threat to Australian troops in Afghanistan remains high, but he says the soldiers and and their Dutch partners have made good progress in disrupting the Taliban in Oruzgan province.

Overall, he says the coalition forces in Afghanistan are denying terrorists the opportunity to use the nation to launch attacks like September 11 or the Bali Bombings.

But he says they are still able to operate from the tribal areas of Pakistan.

The defence chief says, in his view, it is too early to start peace talks with the Taliban and says negotiations should only happen after the insurgents promise to give up their weapons.

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