New Zealand increases troops in Afghanistan from 10 to 13

Health authorities in New Zealand’s biggest city have warned of a typhoid outbreak after 10 people were hospitalized with the potentially deadly illness. (Photo: Tākuta/ Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand says it will increase its tiny military force in Afghanistan from 10 people to 13 following a request from NATO.

The New Zealand troops are assigned to noncombat roles, working as mentors and support personnel at the Afghan National Army Officer Academy in Kabul.

New Zealand has stationed troops in Afghanistan since 2001, mostly in reconstruction roles.

President Donald Trump this week outlined his strategy on Afghanistan, including getting tough on neighbouring Pakistan. He alluded to sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan but didn’t say how many.

New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English was asked by reporters on Friday if he was worried about following the strategy of an unpopular U.S. president. English responded that his nation was involved in Afghanistan “long before President Trump turned up.”