The SAS "mentoring" role in Kabul amounts to a "substantial combat role", the Government has admitted.

Najibullah Lafraie, a former Afghanistan foreign minister, joins us from 2.30pm today for a live chat om the path to peace.

Genital surgery barely registers on scale of today's headline-grabbers.

Former heads of the Defence Force have rejected claims made by Nicky Hager in his latest book that a NZ base in Afghanistan is home to a CIA unit, while new Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae described as "abhorrent", the suggestion that

A new book on the war in Afghanistan reveals that the base which has long housed New Zealand soldiers carrying out reconstruction and aid work is also home to covert operatives from America's Central Intelligence Agency.

Reports there were delays in deploying troops during the attack in which Corporal Doug Grant was killed are being examined by the Defence Force.

A review of the operation in which an SAS soldier died on Friday night in Afghanistan will be held to see what can be learned, the Defence Force says.

The SAS trooper killed in Afghanistan is a married father of two, the Herald on Sunday has been told.

Prime Minister John Key says he accepts full responsibility for the deployment of New Zealand troops in Afghanistan but he sees no need to end their service early after the death of an SAS soldier yesterday.

A New Zealand SAS soldier died on the way to hospital in Afghanistan last night after being shot in the chest after a group of suicide attackers stormed a British compound in the capital, Kabul.

The uncle of fallen soldier Tim O'Donnell questions if troops can prepare for ambushes in hostile enemy terrain.

The Pentagon has agreed to send a group of Marines to NZ next year after an invitation from the Govt.