New Zealand's elite Special Air Service (SAS) troops were involved in hunting down Taleban insurgents in Afghanistan responsible for the death last year of army Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, it was reported tonight.
New Zealand's elite Special Air Service (SAS) troops were involved in hunting down Taleban insurgents in Afghanistan responsible for the death last year of army Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, it was reported tonight.
Lt O'Donnell was the first New Zealand soldier killed in combat in Afghanistan and his death was widely reported in early August.
Until now, actions after his death had been kept secret.
TVNZ's One News said the Government had confirmed that SAS troops stationed in Kabul were involved in hunting down the Taleban insurgents and 12 were believed to have died during the counter-attack.
They mobilised from their base in Kabul two weeks after Lt O'Donnell was killed and, with American assistance, launched a counter-attack in Baghlan Province.
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp said New Zealand was taking an active interest in the region and New Zealand forces "were involved".
"We have our special forces to be able to undertake military operations -- that is part of their overall remit," he said.
"It is in the remit of the special forces to be able to undertake operations at the direction of ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) and Nato, and in this case, particularly, to protect our people."
Lt O'Donnell died on patrol in north-east Bamyan Province and it was believed insurgents who attacked the convoy had come in from neighbouring Baghlan Province, the report said
The report said there had been claims civilians died in the counter-attack but Dr Mapp said they had proved to be false.
