CANBERRA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Australian Defense Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said Monday that the seven Australian soldiers who gave their lives in Afghanistan will not have died in vain.

Australia's Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon attends the keynote address and opening dinner of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore May 30, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The death last week of Commando Lieutenant Michael Fussell underscored the fact that Afghanistan remained a challenging place, he said.

    "It is my absolute determination that these seven brave Australian soldiers who have given their lives for their country in Afghanistan shall not have done so in vain," he told reporters.

    Australia presently has 1,100 troops in Afghanistan.

    Fitzgibbon, who spent last week in Canada and Europe discussing Afghanistan issues with national defense ministers and top officials, said he was pleased with a couple of developments. One was the reaffirmation by the United States of a significant lift in troop numbers.

    "Any further instability in that region is going to make our task a whole lot harder," Fitzgibbon said.