New Zealand to deploy elite SAS to Afghanistan

Aug 10, 2009, 5:48 GMT

   Wellington - The New Zealand government announced Monday that it would send the country's elite SAS (Special Air Service) troops back to Afghanistan to help in the fight against the Taliban.

   Prime Minister John Key told reporters at his weekly press conference in the capital Wellington that the SAS would be in Afghanistan for 18 months over three rotations, with up to 70 troops serving at any one time.

   Key said that the recent bombings in Jakarta, Indonesia, showed that New Zealanders are not immune from terrorism.

   New Zealand has an interest in supporting efforts to eradicate terrorism and promote peace and stability, he said.

   Key also said that New Zealand's provincial reconstruction team in Bamyan province will be wound back over the next three to five years.

   Instead there would be a growing focus put on providing civilian help, particularly in the areas of health, education and agriculture.

   Key said that the government would also appoint a senior diplomatic representative in Afghanistan, rather than continue to run the diplomatic mission from Tehran.

   The National-led multiparty government's decision to deploy, followed the decision by the previous Labour-led government to deploy the SAS to Afghanistan on three separate occasions.