John Key

Wellington, April 6 NZPA - The Government would consider a request to increase New Zealand's military commitment to Afghanistan if it is made when Foreign Minister Murray McCully meets US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday, Prime Minister John Key said today.

Mr McCully is in Washington and is due to meet Secretary Clinton early Wednesday morning (NZT).

Mr Key said it would be the first high-level discussion between President Barack Obama's new administration and the New Zealand Government.

He said the talks would be wide-ranging and he expected there would be a discussion about Afghanistan because the Obama administration had made it clear it wanted Nato and other countries to increase their commitments.

Mr Key was asked what the answer would be if New Zealand was asked for more troops.

"They won't get an answer then and there," he said.

"We will consider their request and that's about the best I can say."

Mr Key announced in February that New Zealand's military commitment was being rolled over by a year to September 2010 at a cost of $41.5 million.

He said at the time that the situation in Afghanistan required an ongoing international programme of security and development assistance.

New Zealand's commitment includes:

* Deployment of the provincial reconstruction team of up to 140 Defence Force personnel in Bamyan Province;

* Deployment of up to five NZDF personnel to various operation headquarters in Afghanistan;

* One military officer with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan;

* Up to two medical specialists serving in the south of Afghanistan; and

* Up to two NZDF NCOs working with the UK to provide training for the Afghan Army.

New Zealand's elite Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers operated in Afghanistan until 2006.

One of them, Corporal Willie Apiata, was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in action and the unit was presented with a US Presidential Citation.

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