Kabul attack shows SAS not solution, Opposition says

An attack which killed a dozen people in Kabul on Monday shows New Zealand Special Air Services' (SAS) presence in Afghanistan is not the solution to the country's problems, Opposition MPs say.

Prime Minister John Key yesterday confirmed a small group of SAS soldiers were at the scene of the attack, where Taleban gunmen and suicide bombers struck the heart of Kabul.

It triggered a battle that left three members of the Afghan security forces and two civilians dead, and 71 people wounded. Seven militants were also killed, either by blowing themselves up or by being shot dead by the security forces.

Several children were also briefly taken hostage, a security official said, in the most dramatic strike on Kabul since the Taleban laid siege to government buildings in February 2009, killing at least 26 people.

No members of the SAS were injured during their limited involvement while responding to the assault in the Pashtunistan Square at about 9.30am local time, Mr Key said.

The Labour Party did not support the latest SAS deployment, though it had sent troops to Afghanistan three times before, saying military action would not affect the outcome.

Party leader Phil Goff said he was confident in the competency and the discipline of the SAS, but it would be the competency and effectiveness of Afghanistan itself that will make a difference.

"As long as you are dealing with a regime that suffers from endemic corruption and doesn't deliver to its people, then combat forces will not be what determines the outcome in Afghanistan."

Green MP Keith Lock said the attack in Kabul poses two questions, whether SAS troops should be part of a military solution and whether risking Kiwi soldiers' lives in a commitment that isn't justified in politically-military terms.

"I think those questions are being posed more by the developments in Kabul."

"We don't want to see SAS troops killed in a deployment that isn't supported by half of the New Zealand population."

The Green Party was not in support of SAS deployment either.

New Zealand remains determined to see through its commitment in Afghanistan, Mr Key said.

He said he was commenting on the incident because the SAS involvement had been reported by journalists at the scene but he would not be making a habit of it unless similar cases arose or there were injuries.

Mr Key said New Zealand was playing a role in preventing global terrorism spreading out from Afghanistan.

New Zealand personnel in Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) were at a military base at the time and were not involved in the fighting.

The SAS is on its fourth deployment, which started in September last year and a commitment has been made to maintain about 70 personnel for up to 18 months, in three rotations.

The Government intends over time to withdraw the Defence Force's 140-strong provincial reconstruction team (PRT), which has been in Bamyan province since 2003.

- NZPA