Plea for more NZ help in Afghanistan

Prime Minister John Key says he is not intending to increase New Zealand's commitment in Afghanistan. Photo / Patrick Gower

Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has urged New Zealand to stand by its commitment to the international alliance in Afghanistan as he called for help at a crucial stage in the nine-year-old war.

Speaking at Nato headquarters in Brussels yesterday ahead of parliamentary elections in Afghanistan, Mr Rasmussen praised New Zealand for its contribution but called on all coalition members to send more instructors to help in the war-torn country.

"Let me express my strong appreciation of New Zealand's contribution to operations in Afghanistan," Mr Rasmussen, who is Nato's secretary-general, said in response to a question from the Herald.

"The contributions from all ISAF partners are highly appreciated from an operational point of view, because we need more troops," he said, referring to the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force.

Mr Rasmussen, speaking at a time of deepening disillusionment in European countries about the Afghan war, also said the 205 New Zealand troops were a potent show of political support.

"From a political point of view, it is also important that the international community stays committed and keeps this as a broad international alliance effort," he said.

"To the people of New Zealand, my message is the same as for all troops: we are first and foremost in Afghanistan for our own security, we are in Afghanistan to prevent conflict, and once again to prevent it becoming a safe haven for terrorists."

If Nato pulled out of Afghanistan prematurely, the Taleban and al Qaeda would return, destabilising neighbouring Pakistan, a nuclear power, Mr Rasmussen argued.

"That would be a danger for the whole international community."

Mr Rasmussen spoke after a meeting of Nato and ISAF ambassadors that discussed plans to beef up trainers to help the Afghan police and military take over more responsibility.

As many as 2000 instructors are needed, the minimum being 750, and specialists with knowledge of engineering, communications, medical support and road clearance are the most urgently required.

"Nato expects to have problems getting these trainers as military budgets from partnership countries are stretched," a source said.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday that from time to time New Zealand received requests for additional trainers in Afghanistan. "But our view is that New Zealand's contribution is already a significant one and we are not intending to increase our commitment in Afghanistan."

He was not aware of any recent formal or informal request for extra trainers.

New Zealand's troops mainly comprise a 140-member provincial reconstruction team (PRT), which has been in the central province of Bamiyan since 2003, advising the local authorities and carrying out "presence patrols" to maintain security, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. "Around 120" of the PRT are troops, it says.

There are also about 70 Special Air Service troops, whose 18-month deployment runs out in April 2011.

The official figure of 205 troops in ISAF varies according to troop rotations, say specialists.

At least half a dozen New Zealanders are also working in non-ISAF roles, with the British, the European Union and the United Nations.

Nato's appeal for extra help comes at a sensitive time for New Zealand with the Defence White Paper due out next month.

Nearly 150,000 troops are on the ground in Afghanistan, under Nato or US command. On August 1, the Netherlands became the first country with a major deployment - 1950 troops - to withdraw from Afghanistan.