Australian troops in East Timor have officially ended its military mission on Thursday, with the flag officially lowered on the 13-year deployment at a ceremony in Dili, according to the Department of Defence. Personnel will remain through to April next year to return equipment to Australia, close bases and return property and buildings to the East Timor government. Australia will maintain an ongoing defense relationship by way of the Defence Cooperation Program. As well, Australian Federal Police (AFP) will continue to support local police. Australia first deployed troops into East Timor in 1999, with 400 remaining under the United Nations International Stabilization Force (ISF).