New Zealand extends military deployment in Afghanistan

New Zealand Thursday said its soldiers will spend another year in Afghanistan.

New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel were deployed in "behind-the-wire roles" in Kabul, including at the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters, ISAF Special Operations Forces headquarters, and Afghan National Army Officer Academy, reports Xinhua.

"The government has reviewed the mandate for these deployments, which is due to expire next April. Our 27 personnel will remain in Afghanistan upto December 2014 to support the final stages of the ISAF mission," Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman said Thursday.

The ISAF mission would be replaced by a training, advice, and assistance mission.

"As previously announced, a small number of personnel are expected to remain at the British-led Afghan National Army Officer Academy in roles focused on training assistance and capacity building beyond 2014," Coleman said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said New Zealand's work in Afghanistan was "business as usual".

"New Zealand remains committed to fulfilling our role as part of the ISAF mission to secure the gains made in Afghanistan over the last decade," McCully said.

The NZDF pulled its Bamyan Provincial Reconstruction Team out of Afghanistan earlier this year.