NZ focus on rebuilding Bamian, says Goff

ANDREW GORRIE/Dominion Post

HELP APPRECIATED: Habiba Sarabi, governor of Afghanistan's Bamian province, with Phil Goff in Wellington.

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The Government has ruled out sending troops to the parts of Afghanistan where fighting with the Taleban is still raging.

New Zealand will instead continue to focus its military efforts on the relatively safe province of Bamian where a 120-member provincial reconstruction team has been based since 2003, Defence Minister Phil Goff says.

He was commenting yesterday when Bamian governor Habiba Sarabi was in Wellington to thank New Zealand for its efforts.

Mr Goff said the security situation, particularly in southern and eastern Afghanistan, remained a concern, with an upsurge of violence and suicide attacks.

News agencies report growing fears over the way the war is going, high casualty rates in forces based there and a reluctance by other members of the international stabilisation force to send in more troops.

Asked to comment, Mr Goff said: "It is not our intention at the present time to increase our presence outside of Bamian. Our focus is very much on Bamian."

Patrolling across the province had been effective in maintaining security but infiltration from insurgents could not be ruled out.

"It is relatively safe but we are not complacent about that. We are doing a review to see whether there is any need for an increased presence in Bamian."

Dr Sarabi said her people were benefiting a lot from the development assistance being provided.

- © Fairfax NZ News