Scoop Audio: PM confirms SAS in Kabul

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Prime Minister John Key has confirmed that New Zealand special forces are operating in Kabul

• Scoop Audio: Audio on Demand of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key's Post Cabinet Press Conference.

The Prime Minister confirmed today that New Zealand’s SAS is operating in Kabul, and said he will review his Government’s secretive approach to Special Forces deployments.

A story in the most recent Sunday Star Times highlighted comments by a Norwegian General which revealed New Zealand’s Special Air Service is replacing Norwegian Special Forces in the tense Afghan capital.

Successive New Zealand Governments have refused to disclose the SAS’s location saying revealing “operational details” would jeopardise troop safety.

Today Key acknowledged the Norwegian disclosure had not put New Zealand troops at risk and said it was time to take another look at the policy, but he would not be drawn on a timeframe and said it would not be a formal review.

Other Governments have a more transparent approach to their Special Forces deployments, with the Australian government revealing their location and details of their missions after the fact.

Member of the New Zealand Special Air Service with gas mask

On detainee treatment, Key told Scoop that his Government is still seeking a formal agreement with the Afghan government on the fate of detainees the SAS pass on to Afghan forces.

This contradicts a recent media report saying New Zealand signed an agreement on detainee treatment with Kabul before the Afghan election.

Key said he had not seen any agreement, and if it exists he has not been briefed on it.

According to the Sunday Star Times the agreement was signed on the condition that its existence and details were suppressed.

Key said New Zealand currently has a verbal assurance from Kabul that detainees will not be tortured. Detainee abuse by Afghan forces has been well documented by human rights organisation Amnesty International.

It is a crime under international law to hand people over to other authorities if it is likely they will be abused.

Also discussed in today’s press conference: the Pacific Tsunami, the speed of the Prime Minister’s motorcade in Samoa, A review of New Zealand’s Civil Defence response, teacher cuts, Maori TV’s bid for the rugby world cup coverage, and Green Party housing allowance issues.

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