Troops will remain in Bamiyan province of Afghanistan despite the death of a New Zealander soldier there overnight, Prime Minister John Key says.The fatality was New Zealand's first combat death in Afghanistan since New Zealand's troops were deployed ther
Troops will remain in Bamiyan province of Afghanistan despite the death of a New Zealander soldier there overnight, Prime Minister John Key says.
The fatality was New Zealand's first combat death in Afghanistan since New Zealand's troops were deployed there in 2003. During that time 17 Australian soldiers have died.
Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae, said the soldier was killed and two others wounded when their patrol was attacked in Bamiyan Province in the east of Afghanistan. They were members of New Zealand's Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRTin the province.
Mr Key said his thoughts were with the families of the dead and wounded soldiers.
The Defence Force would review tactics and procedures following the death of the soldier but the troops would continue with their mission in Bamiyan, he said.
Mr Key, in Vanuatu for the annual Pacific Islands Forum, said he was woken at 1.30am today and told a New Zealander had been killed and two others injured in Afghanistan.
He was told the attack on a party of 10-12 people in a three car convoy was a complex one and air support could not be utilised because of bad weather.
The PRT was doing a good job in Bamiyan and their work there would continue, he said.
"It's not my view that we should withdraw from Bamiyan quicker as a result of this event."
A review of tactics and procedures would be carried out and the situation would continue to be monitored, Mr Key said.
He was not immediately aware of precisely how the soldier died. The injured soldiers had cuts and burns.
Mr Key, who visited the NZPRT in Bamiyan in May, said he would call the soldiers' parents today and the name of the dead man was likely to be released later today.
Mr Key will remain in Vanuatu for the rest of the week as scheduled.
Greens defence spokesman Keith Locke said he felt great sadness at the death of a New Zealand soldier.
"We join with all New Zealanders in mourning the loss today."
The provincial reconstruction team had been doing very good work and it was sad one of its soldiers had died, he said.
He expressed his sympathy to the Defence Force and the soldier's family.
The Government announced that the PRT will extend their secondment until September 2011.
The force works on maintaining security in Bamiyan Province, and carries out frequent patrols throughout the area.
