Australia are uncertain if they will defend their Champions Trophy title due to continued political tension in Pakistan.

Cricket Australia's general manager of public affairs Peter Young could not guarantee Australia, who earlier this year postponed their tour to Pakistan due to safety concerns, would take part in the eight-team one-day tournament.

Australia have not played an international in Pakistan since 1998, though Australia A toured the country last year.

"Obviously, as with anywhere in the world we travel, we need to be convinced of the safety and security and convinced it's appropriate," Young said.

"That's a discussion that's under way. I couldn't pre-empt where this is going to end up because there's still too much work to be done.

"We can guarantee that we will be a part of the process that's under way and we can guarantee that our objective, subject to all of the normal criteria being as it should be, is to go to Pakistan and successfully defend the Champions Trophy."

The revelation comes as the International Cricket Council (ICC) prepare for the official launch of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan on Wednesday, while chief executives from the game's 10 Test-playing nations are set to discuss the competition with the the world governing body at a Chief Executive Committee (CEC) meeting in Dubai later this month.

The ICC's safety and security assessments are still a "work in progress", according to Young, and a timeline on a decision on Australia's participation in the tournament has not yet been drawn up.

"They are in the process of going through a safety assessment and building a risk management plan around that," he added.

Australia have been scheduled to open their title defence against India in Lahore on September 13