Key visits dead soldier's widow, young family

Prime Minister John Key has visited the widow of a Special Air Services soldier killed in the Afghanistan capital Kabul on Friday.

The soldier died after being shot in the chest while he and about 15 other New Zealand troops attempted to free hostages after a Taleban attack at the British Council diplomatic offices.

He was the first New Zealand SAS soldier to be killed in action in Afghanistan.

Key said he ''flew down'' to see the soldier's widow yesterday. His name is not expected to be released until tomorrow and the Prime Minister said he was not in a position to say whether he was from the South Island.

''I personally wanted to go and express my condolences,'' Key told reporters in Wellington.

The soldier was a long-serving member of the SAS and had a young family, he said.

''So that is obviously very tragic.

''His widow relayed his absolute passion for what he was doing and the belief in the task that he was undertaking in Afghanistan. He absolutely loved his job. But I don't think any of that makes it any easier. At the end of the day, a family has lost their father and we are obviously deeply saddened by that.''

The soldier was killed by a single bullet although he was wearing body armour, Key said.

His body was likely to be sent to Hawaii where it would be collected by an Air Force Boeing 757.

''That would be the appropriate thing and we'll send some people up to accompany him home.''

He could be home by Wednesday or towards the end of the week.

The soldier had only been in Kabul for a short time although it was not his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The SAS unit in Kabul were coping with their colleague's death, Key said.

''They are only human beings. They are tough and rugged individuals but in their own way they will feel it, like we all do. But they've got a job to do and they will be working hard to make sure they are carrying out their tasks.

"It's a dangerous and volatile environment so it's important they stay focused on the job that they've got to do.''

The SAS leadership had said they were ''increasingly impressed'' with the Afghan Crisis Response Unit they had been mentoring, he said.

''Their level of performance at the British Council was very high on Friday.''

However, the tactics of the Taleban were changing.

''It's trying to do more high profile, more obvious insurgent attacks.''

It was not necessary to reassess the role of the SAS in Kabul following the soldier's death, Key said.

''I don't think anyone would argue that's the right thing to do now.''