8 Jul 2009

Pressure on NZ by US over Afghanistan

4:30 pm on 8 July 2009

Copies of diplomatic messages confirm New Zealand is under constant pressure from the United States to increase its military commitment in Afghanistan.

The Government is still considering whether to send SAS forces back to Afghanistan.

Papers obtained by Radio New Zealand under the Official Information Act confirm again how impressed the Americans are with a provincial reconstruction team from New Zealand in Bamyan province.

They show there is continuing discussion about what greater role New Zealand could play.