NZ Army attacked in Afghanistan

NZ Army

ON PATROL: New Zealand soldiers in Afghanistan have been attacked by insurgents.

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New Zealand soldiers spent two hours fighting insurgents, after an attack on a patrol in Afghanistan at the weekend.

The troops came under fire by insurgents using small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades at about 11am Afghan time on Sunday (about 7.30pm NZ) but none were injured.

A patrol, comprising Hiluxes and Hummers, was returning from the northeastern area of Bamyan province, when it came under fire from insurgents, said Captain Zac Prendergast of NZ Defence Force communications.

The New Zealand troops returned fire on more than one occasion and the whole incident probably lasted about two hours, he said.

"It wasn't a shoot and scoot. They were able to take up positions and return fire."

Capt Prendergast said it had not been established who the insurgents were. There were other groups operating in the area and they would not necessarily be part of the Taliban, he said.

A couple of the patrol's vehicles suffered minor damage but were able to make it back to base under their own steam.

They would return to patrol tomorrow, he said.

"It will be business as usual."

"This is an area we have had a couple of contacts before. It's an area we do know you need to tread carefully. Obviously there will be heightened awareness now," he said.

Prime Minister John Key told reporters that he did not think there had been any casualties on the other side.

He said they had known for some time that the Bamiyan area where the Provincial Reconstruction Team is based was more volatile than when the troops had first arrived in 2003.

He said the attack would not force him to reconsider the deployment and he had not had any advice from military officials to do so.

"As I've said repeatedly, Afghanistan is a dangerous place," he said.

He said he had also not received advice at this stage that more troops were needed to ensure the team's safety.

The troops were carrying out work essential to the stabilisation of the war-torn country, he said.

In June a New Zealand military patrol escaped unharmed when a bomb or IED detonated in front of it, the Defence Force says.

The IED (improvised explosive device) is the latest tool used in escalating violence in war-wracked Afghanistan.

A New Zealand Special Air Services unit is now operating in the Afghanistan capital Kabul.

In 2004 a New Zealand Special Air Services unit, working with Nato forces, was caught in a fierce gun battle.

In it Corporal Willie Apiata won a Victoria Cross for rescuing another New Zealander under fire.

- with NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News