Injury puts spotlight back on SAS

New Zealand's top-secret military involvement in Afghanistan is once again being questioned after a Special Air Service soldier was injured.

The SAS soldier suffered lacerations to his legs and feet when an explosive device detonated during a routine movement of ordinance for disposal at a coalition base in Afghanistan on Saturday.

He was being treated at a medical facility at an undisclosed location yesterday. His injuries were not considered life-threatening.

Defence Forces spokeswoman Commander Sandy McKie said it was too early to tell if the soldier would be returning to New Zealand.

In accordance with New Zealand's secrecy around SAS operations, Commander McKie said no further information would be released on the incident or the soldier.

Green Party spokesman Keith Locke said he felt sad for the injured soldier, who should not have been there in the first place.

"I would hope that it prompts the new Defence Minister, Phil Goff, to have another look at what the SAS is doing in Afghanistan. Because they are participating in an American-led operation that has been criticised for being insensitive and trigger-happy," Mr Locke said.

"There is no good reason for New Zealanders being involved. We shouldn't have to wait until injuries or death before it comes into the news and New Zealanders discuss it."

In June last year two SAS soldiers were wounded in a gun battle in central Afghanistan.

The United States military has been criticised for its conduct in Afghanistan, most recently when allegations were made that US soldiers desecrated the bodies of dead Taleban fighters by burning them.

Mr Locke said it was impossible to keep the SAS accountable for its actions in Afghanistan because of the heavy secrecy around it.

"The question I have been raising for the last year or two, and I haven't had satisfactory answers, is if the SAS captures Afghans and it passes those prisoners over to the Americans, then how do we know they are not being mistreated?

"It would be much better if we concentrated any commitment we had there in a more peacekeeping and reconstruction form."

Mr Goff could not be reached for comment yesterday.