PM rejected Aussie request for joint force in Afghanistan

John Key visited New Zealand troops in Afghanistan earlier this year. Photo / NZPA

The Government rejected an Australian request for a joint Anzac force in Afghanistan because it would put more New Zealand soldiers at risk, Prime Minister John Key said today.

New Zealand and Australian forces are in Afghanistan as part of a Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last year approached Mr Key about putting together an Anzac contingent to send to the Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan.

The Australians wanted 20 to 50 New Zealand troops to help out in a training, non-combat role.

The Anzac force would have trained and mentored Afghan troops.

Mr Key said he considered the option, including while in Afghanistan in May this year.

He denied the request about six weeks ago.

However, a small group of medical and support people may be deployed to Uruzgan.

It would not have been possible to train people inside the safe zone and Mr Key did not want to train people outside it.

"I thought it might put at risk our people and obviously I've clearly done that by deploying the SAS, but I felt that was a risk that we didn't want to take at that time," he said.

"We're actually pretty fully engaged in Afghanistan."

Mr Rudd was disappointed New Zealand would not help but understood, Mr Key said today.

Cabinet is yet to consider whether to extend the work of the 70-plus SAS contingent in Kabul and the 140 troops in Bamiyan.

- NZPA