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New Zealand is extending its commitment to the so-called war on
terror in Afghanistan.
The New Zealand Army has a provincial reconstruction team of about
120 troops in both a security and a rebuilding role in the Bamiyan
province.
"We have been in Bamiyan for about three and a half years. It's
been a very successful effort by the New Zealand defence force,"
says Defence Minister Phil Goff.
The mission, which includes training the Afghan Army and the police
force, was due to wind up in September but on Monday cabinet
extended it for another year.
A frigate will also be sent up to the Persian Gulf for a
month next year as part of a mission to intercept vessels suspected
of being involved in terrorist activities. The government says New
Zealand is doing a lot for such a small country.
"We're ranked 14 on a per capita basis, but of the non-Nato
countries that are involved in the deployment in Afghanistan we
have the second highest level per capita level of contribution,"
says Goff.
The moves will cost about $30 million and come as Prime Minister
Helen Clark is due to meet US President George Bush at the White
House next week.
"I think the US is well aware that New Zealand has played a
considerable role for its size in Afghanistan," says Clark.
And with New Zealand and the US having very different views on the
Iraq war, Clark will relish the opportunity to talk about
Afghanistan, a conflict which unites the two countries rather than
divides.
