New Zealand remains committed to the military coalition in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Phil Goff said yesterday, wrapping up a 24-hour visit to Kabul.
Mr Goff said New Zealand would keep a presence in operation Enduring Freedom but would not specify what this would entail.
"We are committed to our ongoing contribution to operation Enduring Freedom," he said. "This can take different forms as we rotate our people through."
NZPA understands that New Zealand's Special Air Service (SAS) troops in Afghanistan will return home for Christmas and are unlikely to be replaced.
New Zealand is believed to have about 40 SAS troops in Afghanistan. Three were injured in October when the vehicle they were travelling in hit a landmine.
During his visit, Mr Goff held talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, in which he discussed the looming prospect of war in Iraq.
Afghan authorities have expressed concerns that many countries will turn their attention away from Afghanistan as the focus shifts to Iraq.
Australia is at present pulling its military forces from Afghanistan, despite protests from Kabul.
Mr Goff said his trip was a chance to "see security on the ground" in Afghanistan.
Speaking in New Zealand this week, Mr Goff said a key subject of his trip would be discussions on the creation of the new Afghan national Army.
The Afghan Government wants the current Army, which numbers only about 1200 men, to evolve into a 70,000-strong force that will replace the huge private militias controlled by warlords across the country.
The New Zealand Government has pledged $500,000 in aid for the United Nations children's fund to facilitate education in the war-ravaged nation.
Mr Goff said the money would help ensure that teachers were well trained and that classes would be available for the nearly three million children currently enrolled in school.
"That's very important to the rebuilding process in Afghanistan."
Mr Goff said Unicef had been a great help to the interim Administration in Afghanistan in getting primary and secondary school education restarted.
"Since the removal of the Taleban regime, over three million children have resumed their education, including more than one million girls previously banned from getting an education," he said.
"New Zealand's contribution will help Unicef deliver early childhood education, teacher training and accelerated learning classes.
"There is a vast demand for education at all levels in Afghanistan and we are targeting areas that we think will make the biggest difference to ordinary Afghan families."
The $500,000 pledge will bring New Zealand's contribution to the rebuilding of Afghanistan to $3.1 million.
Mr Goff met New Zealand special forces and a handful of peacekeepers during his two-day visit, under tight security.
He will next visit neighbouring Iran.
- NZPA
Story archives:
Links: War against terrorism
Timeline: Major events since the Sept 11 attacks
Afghan stance to continue
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
