NZ increases contribution to war against terrorism

By VERNON SMALL

The Prime Minister is flagging a long-term plan to send humanitarian aid to Afghanistan as she moves to mollify critics within the Coalition of her hawkish stance.

With the United States pressing for greater involvement in the so-called war on terrorism, junior Coalition partner the Alliance yesterday made it clear it would not back any additional military contribution.

The Alliance is furious that the humanitarian aid package, to be offered through the United Nations, has been painted as New Zealand stepping up its war effort.

"We have not agreed to, nor has the Government proposed, further offensive military responses to the war in Afghanistan," Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton said.

The Alliance has suffered internal splits over the war, with some members opposed to backing, let alone joining, US-led military strikes against Afghanistan.

The Government has already offered SAS troops but Helen Clark has refused to say how many or whether they have been deployed.

Government sources yesterday confirmed that the unit had not yet left for the conflict.

Labour and Alliance sources said the aid package, pushed hard by Mr Anderton and Disarmament Minister Matt Robson, was aimed at putting a new humanitarian emphasis on New Zealand's response as concerns mounted over civilian casualties of the US bombing and the civil war in Afghanistan.

"This enhanced humanitarian contribution may require, for example, a Hercules to transport food and medicines for refugees, engineers for refugee camps, a logistics team to coordinate relief efforts, and a medical team to work with refugees," Mr Anderton said.

Ministers stressed NZ would not send frigates to join the war effort.

But a liaison officer has been stationed at Centcom in Florida, the base for coordinating the US-led coalition against the Taleban regime in Afghanistan and the terrorist organisation al Qaeda, which the US blames for the September 11 attacks.

Meanwhile, Green Party foreign affairs spokesman Keith Locke has backed humanitarian aid but said it was a smokescreen to justify NZ's participation in the war.

"I feel it is somewhat cynical to send SAS troops into a war and then claim credit for using our medics to patch people up.

"Likewise, it's hypocritical to support the American bombing of roads and bridges and then send Kiwi engineers to repair them."

Mr Locke said public opinion at home and abroad was turning against the war as more and more civilians were killed.

Helen Clark said this country's humanitarian response must wait until the end of the Antarctic summer research programme freed up a Hercules, because so much of the military's resources were otherwise committed in East Timor until next November.

Mr Robson, however, is keen to move on the plan. He said he was working with officials "to scope a NZ plan" for immediate as well as long-term development assistance to the people of Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff said the aid offer was to the UN High Commission for Refugees. The personnel and equipment were not being offered to fight the Taleban.

"They're not going there with the intent of being part of a front-line invasion of Afghanistan ... They would go there if they are required in order to save people's lives from famine, from disease, from poor sanitation, etc."

Meanwhile, ministers have urged New Zealanders not to be cowed by claims that this country would be a target of the Taleban's holy war.

The Taleban Ambassador to Pakistan, Abdul Salam Zaeef, has said any country that joined America in the attacks on Afghanistan was seen as an enemy and would be encompassed by the jihad.

But Mr Goff said New Zealand, Australia and many other countries of the world "have already been the victims of the terrorists that are harboured by the Taleban".

"People from 79 nations died on September 11, including two New Zealanders ... The terrorists killed those people totally indiscriminately without provocation."

Any subsequent action against the Taleban was a response to their actions, Mr Goff said.

"I don't believe that any New Zealander would think that we should be cowed into doing nothing because of threats made against us if we took a stand against terrorism."