Rudd: Bin Laden's Death Won't Speed Up Australia's Afghan Exit

(Australia Twitter)-Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has said the al-Qaeda leader's death in a US mission in Pakistan won't hasten a withdrawal.

But Senator Brown says it's time for the government to rethink its position.

Mr Rudd, who met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington DC on Monday, also re-affirmed Australia's troop commitment in Afghanistan.

The former Premier insisted that "we will stay the course in Afghanistan until our mission is complete."

Australia is the largest contributor - among non-NATO members -to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) with 1,550 troops currently deployed in the southern province of Uruzgan.

He said he was concerned a new contingent was about to be sent from Townsville to Afghanistan.

"The questions is: is this Australia's war? Is this where Australian troops should be deployed?"

Senator Brown said Australia shouldn't respond to threats made against allied troops since bin Laden's death.

Australian forces are deployed in the southern Afghan province of Oruzgan and Afghan President Hamid Karzai has set a timetable for Afghan forces to take charge of security by 2014.

Mr Rudd said Australian troops "will stay the course in Afghanistan until our mission is complete".

However, the question is whether the deployment of Australian troops and the continuing death toll, and the injury toll, which is heart-rending, is in Australia's wider interests.

"Our view is we should bring our troops home."

He also cautioned people not to "gloat at the death of this criminal.

We respect President Karzai's 2014 date, and we are well on track towards achieving that, and we see no change as a result of the events of the last 24 hours," he said.

Bin Laden was shot dead by US Navy SEALS who raided his compound in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has set a timetable for Afghan forces to take charge of security by 2014 and Mr Rudd said Australia was committed to that.

"We see no change as a result of the events of the last 24 hours," Mr Rudd said.

Bin Laden was shot dead by US Navy SEALS who raided his compound in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad, Pakistan.