THE overriding feeling for a former chief of joint operations now based in Wangaratta is one of sadness, following this week's fall of Afghanistan capital Kabul to Taliban fighters.

Wangaratta RSL sub-branch president Lieutenant General (Retired) Ash Power said it was "sad to see 20 years of hard work by 50 nations in an attempt to help one" end in the collapse of the Afghan government.

Lt Gen (Ret) Power visited Afghanistan up to a dozen times, including during his stint as chief of joint operations and commander of headquarters, joint operations command between 2011 and ...