By 3 News online staff
Prime Minister John Key says the Defence Force’s withdrawal from Afghanistan won’t be affected by the latest deaths of three New Zealand soldiers.
The Government has been discussing whether to pull its troops out in the earlier or later part of next year.
“It is possible that it will be an early 2013 date but that hasn’t changed as a result of this great tragedy that we’ve suffered overnight,” Mr Key told Firstline. “It is a significant logistical exercise to withdraw and also they are effectively providing support services for our humanitarian aid effort.”
Mr Key says he is aware that insurgent activity has been increasing in Bamiyan province for some time. But it’s unlikely that members of the elite SAS would be redeployed there, because of the lack of intelligence and logistical support available.
“In the end I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to try and provide safety and security for our people, but the advice I’ve had over the last few weeks is that sending the SAS back wouldn’t actually alter the situation at this point,” he says.
The troops were travelling in a humvee, a type of military vehicle that generally provides less protection than light armoured vehicles (LAVs). But the Prime Minister says the explosion was so large that even being in a LAV wouldn’t have prevented their deaths.
“In all probability the number [lost] would’ve been greater,” he says, “because there are generally seven or eight people in an LAV. So that gives you an idea of the size of its bomb and its capability.”
Mr Key says his heart sank when he was told about the deaths.
“Your heart just sinks. It’s an awful thing for those families and for the whole country who feel, to a degree, a sense of helplessness about the whole situation.”
“I think everyone understands what we’ve been doing and has got some sense of the gains but also now a very real sense of the risks.”
Watch the video for John Key’s full interview on Firstline.
3 News