New Zealand has announced that it will not send its combat troops to Iraq to fight the Islamic State extremists. At the same time, it will be ready to send military personnel to train the Iraqi forces in an adavisory capacity.

Different Role

Prime Minister John Key made it clear that New Zealand cannot and should not fight Iraqis' battles for them. "Therefore, I am ruling out New Zealand sending SAS or any troops into combat roles in Iraq," the PM said. But he said SAS can be deployed to protect the air base where New Zealand Forces will be imparting training. Mr Key said the role of SAS, even if deployed in Iraq, would be different from what it played in Afghanistan. There it had accompanied the Afghanistan Crisis Response Units on different missions, reported New Zealand Herald.

While announcing troops decision, the Prime Minister in his speech on national security, also pointed to internal threat perceptions. In his introduction about the security threats, Mr. John Key said, "New Zealand has been considered safe from extremist threats. But it gives me no pleasure to tell you that it is changing."

Watch List

Mr. Key disclosed that the government agencies have come up with a watch list of 30 and 40 New Zealanders, who are into extremist activities. Some of them travelled to Syria to participate in the fighting, while others could not do, because their passports were cancelled. The watch list has identified a few, who are funding terrorism.

There is one more list of 30 to 40 people, who are undergoing investigation. The Prime Minister outlined measures for boosting security. This included extending the time limit on canceled passports on grounds of national security, from one year to three years. Also, officials will be given powers to suspend passports of suspects on a temporary basis. The government will further increase its surveillance on terror funding and the intelligence agencies will keep a hard watch on such people .

Military Planners Trip

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee told reporters that a few military planners have already left for the Middle East to determine the kind of role New Zealand must play in helping Iraqi forces to battle ISIS extremists, reported Stripes News. Brownlee said New Zealand will have to see the invitation from the Iraqi government for deciding on further action. New Zealand is also in touch with neighbouring Australia to know how they can work in conjunction. Australia has already deployed six jet fighters on combat missions in northern Iraq and is keen to add 200 special troops in an advisory role to help the Iraqi security forces.