An Australian special forces soldier has been killed in Afghanistan, taking the number of Australian troops to have died in the country to 18.
Trooper Jason Brown, 29, from Perth, was shot and wounded during an operation against insurgents in northern Kandahar. He was evacuated by helicopter, but later died.
No other Australian or Afghan soldiers were wounded in the engagement.
Australia's Defence Minister John Faulkner says it's crucial the country stays the course in Afghanistan despite the death.
Mr Faulkner says the soldier's service struck at the heart of the Taliban insurgency.
"This is a critical time for the international coalition in Afghanistan and for the Afghan people. The work of pushing back the Taleban is difficult and it is costly, but it is absolutely necessary if we are to achieve our goals in the country," he said.
The ABC reports Trooper Brown had over 10 years service in the Army and had been deployed three times in East Timor.
He was not married and had no children.
The number of Australian troops to have died in Afghanistan is now 18.
