Australia marked the 25th anniversary of its military involvement in Afghanistan with a commemorative service at the Australian War Memorial on Sunday, an event that also highlighted divisions within the Coalition government over the ongoing legal case involving Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier.

Roberts-Smith, who has faced allegations of war crimes linked to his service in Afghanistan, attended the event amid a rare display of mixed reactions from politicians and the public. While hundreds of veterans and supporters greeted him warmly, many high-profile political figures, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, former prime ministers John Howard, Tony Abbott, and Scott Morrison, as well as Opposition Leader Angus Taylor and Coalition frontbencher Andrew Hastie, largely refrained from engaging with him.

Roberts-Smith was seated at one end of the front row and was notably acknowledged by only a few individuals. Opposition frontbencher Phil Thompson, who interacted with Roberts-Smith after the service and reportedly dined with him the earlier evening, described the situation as unremarkable, emphasizing Roberts-Smith’s status as a veteran and Victoria Cross recipient.

Tensions within the Coalition were evident, particularly as One Nation, a right-wing party, has criticized Andrew Hastie, an Afghanistan veteran and Coalition member, for giving evidence against Roberts-Smith during his defamation trial. The party has openly campaigned in support of Roberts-Smith, using his case as a point of contrast with the Coalition’s stance.

In public remarks, Roberts-Smith downplayed the controversy surrounding his case, asserting that his presence at the service was meant to honor all those who served in Afghanistan rather than draw attention to his personal situation. He reiterated his denials of any wrongdoing and stressed the non-political nature of military service.

"Everything that we were doing in Afghanistan is because that’s where we were sent," Roberts-Smith said. "We served our country and we’re all very proud of it. Every single person that served in Afghanistan should be proud of their service."

John Howard, as prime minister at the time of Australia’s commitment to the Afghanistan campaign following the September 11 attacks, defended the initial decision to deploy troops. He lauded the sacrifices made by service members and framed the mission as a fight for freedom, democracy, and improved opportunities, particularly for women in Afghanistan.

"It was always worth putting your hand up to defend freedom and greater opportunities for democracy and greater opportunities for women," Howard told reporters. "We, along with the Americans and others who served there, made a big difference."

Prime Minister Albanese echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the service and sacrifice of Australian troops while affirming the broader purpose behind the campaign initiated in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks.