Politicians 'out of their depth' over Afghanistan

There are accusations this morning that politicians are out of their depth when making decisions about Afghanistan.

New Zealand has lost five soldiers there this month - the latest three dying on Sunday when their vehicle hit an explosive device.

The Government is now looking to pull out of Afghanistan in April.

But freelance correspondent in Kabul Jon Stephenson is questioning whether politicians like Prime Minister John Key and Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman have the judgement to make the right decisions about our involvement.

"They don't understand war, they don't know what it's like when a vehicle is hit by a massive bomb, they don't know what it's like to see people shot and these people are making decisions that affect others and (are) putting other people in harm's way."

Auckland University associate professor of political studies Stephen Hoadley says New Zealand would send the wrong message to the Taliban if it withdrew prematurely as a result of these casualties.

"But also to New Zealand's allies and friends who are depending on New Zealand to be one of the team of something like 40 different contributors to try to stabilise Afghanistan."

Planned work by Japanese forces on an airstrip is what's playing a major part in the Kiwi troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister says the Japanese are to redevelop Bamyan Airport, and when they begin, it will render the airport unusable to exit the province.

John Key says the work is due to begin in May meaning New Zealand forces will probably have to leave in April.

"If we don't leave by April then what it would mean is we would have to use the road to take our people out to Kabul. That's unacceptable to me, I think that road's too risky."

The decision will be made in two weeks.

"We've been going back and forth with that particular party to see whether there's flexibility in the way that they operate, and that's been an ongoing dialogue where we've put up lots of different options to try and understand what their preference is."

"If we don't leave by April then what it would mean is we would have to use the road to take our people out to Kabul. That's unacceptable to me, I think that road's too risky."

Otago University senior lecturer, and former Afghan Foreign Minister, Dr Najibullah Lafraie says the Government's made the right decision looking to bring the troops home in April next year.

"I believe they should limit their activities as much as possible and to go out of their space with as much cautious measures as possible."

There's total confusion as to what lies ahead for Bamyan Province.

NATO spokesman Major Adam Wojack says despite the two attacks over recent weeks which have killed five New Zealand soldiers, there's no obvious pattern.

He says it's too hard to predict what may happen.

"We think it's just too early to tell if Bamyan is headed towards troubles but those fatal attacks on New Zealand soldiers are definitely indicators of something."

Major Wojack says they haven't seen enough similar incidents to know if there's an insurgent counter-offence.

The number of New Zealand soldiers killed in Afghanistan is fairly high on a per capita basis.

The three killed in Bamyan Province on Sunday brings to 10 the number of soldiers we've lost there.

Auckland University's Stephen Hoadley says that's a fairly high count.

"Even compared to ... United States, Canada, Australia and other very active participants in the Afghan support deployment."

Meanwhile Corporal Luke Tamatea, who was killed in action on Sunday, was critical of John Key for not attending the funerals of Rory Malone and Pralli Durrer.

They died following a firefight between New Zealand troops and insurgents in northern Bamyan Province earlier this month.

Mr Key says he's not going to respond to the criticism.

"This was a very brave New Zealand soldier that lost his life in the defence of New Zealand. I have huge respect for him and I don't intend to engage in any other comments about any comments he might have made."

Mr Key says he'll be phoning the soldiers' families later today.

Photo: Getty Images