New Zealand offers to send SAS troops to help
New Zealand will send its elite SAS troops to help the US fight against terrorism if necessary.
Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff says the troops would work alongside British and Australians who they have trained with in the past.
Mr Goff says there are no suggestions regular Kiwi troops will be sent into Afghanistan, as individuals rather than countries or religions would be targeted.
He said: "What we're talking about is sensible and rational approaches."
"I think the point that the Americans, and we, would acknowledge is that terrorist cells are not only operating out of countries like Afghanistan, they're operating out of the US itself, they're operating out of some of the European countries and possibly the most useful ongoing effort we can make is through ongoing intelligence sharing."
He had earlier met the US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary of State Jim Kelly in Washington.
He says while the FBI did not believe terrorist cells were operating in New Zealand the government is still aiming to strengthen anti-terrorism laws.
