Government SAS silence noted on US list

The United States Defence Department has highlighted the secrecy surrounding the contribution of New Zealand's Special Air Service (SAS) to the "war on terrorism".

The Pentagon has published the first of what it says will be monthly lists of what different countries are doing in the coalition against terrorism in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

It says New Zealand SAS troops "work alongside the forces of other nations in Afghanistan".

"They fill an important role, as part of the international effort, to stabilise the area."

Then it adds the note: "NZ has a policy of neither confirming nor denying the specific location, mission or techniques of the NZ SAS troops."

The US Defence Department has not attached a similar note to any of the other countries listed as deploying special operations forces (SOF) in Afghanistan. But no detail is given for any nation's SOF operations.

It says, for instance, that Australian SOF troops were performing the "full spectrum of SOF missions" in Afghanistan.

The New Zealand Government did not officially acknowledge the presence of its SAS troops in Afghanistan until March, after their activities had been mentioned on the White House's website.

On Monday, Prime Minister Helen Clark told the Returned Services Association (RSA) annual conference that the SAS unit was serving with distinction in Afghanistan.

"The troops seek no public recognition for what they do, but I can tell you that they are doing difficult and dangerous work and are very highly thought of."

- NZPA