Defence Minister Phil Goff has revealed the extent of New Zealand's Special Air Service Group involvement in Afghanistan.
More than five years into the war in Afghanistan and the
violence still continues. At least 15 were killed overnight Tuesday
in an unsuccessful assassination attempt on US Vice President Dick
Cheney.
New Zealand SAS troops have spent 18 months fighting Taliban and al
Qaeda but they have done so under a veil of secrecy.
The Defence Force's SAS is a specialist force which focuses on surveillance and reconnaissance missions and counter terrorism.
Between 40 and 65 SAS members conducted operations in Afghanistan between December 2001 and November 2005. The first deployment was for 12 months and two others were for six months.
Goff made public his submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee.
He says on patrols of up to 20 days long, SAS gathered intelligence and engaged in combat, but the government will not say how many lives the SAS has taken.
He revealed they were involved in action which saw casualties.
SAS were also involved in missions in which individuals were temporarily detained in order to capture Taliban members, and for al Qaeda suspects believed to be among them.
Between 50 and 70 people were held for up to five hours but none of them are currently being held by the United States.
The SAS is no longer in Afghanistan but New Zealand retains a provincial reconstruction team of about 120 personnel.
Cabinet is expected to sign off on another six month deployment soon.
