New Zealand special forces soldiers in Afghanistan were involved in a joint operation with US military in which a number of women and children were killed in 2010 and the deaths were covered up, according to an explosive new book.

Key points: 21 people were killed or wounded in the raid, most of whom were women and children

21 people were killed or wounded in the raid, most of whom were women and children Some bodies showed signs they might have been killed by NZ snipers, the book claims

Some bodies showed signs they might have been killed by NZ snipers, the book claims The reporters allege politicians and senior military personnel conspired to keep the truth from the public

The claims are included in the book Hit and Run, launched on Tuesday in New Zealand by investigative journalists Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson, who said they relied on information from New Zealand, Afghan and United States military sources.

The book says the raid, which took place in Baghlan Province on August 22, 2010, was in response to an attack on a New Zealand patrol by Taliban fighters 19 days earlier.

The New Zealand SAS believed they would find the insurgents responsible.

They say New Zealand SAS troops, backed by US helicopters and Afghan commandos, attacked two villages.

Six people were killed and 15 wounded, most of whom were women and children. No insurgents were killed.

The book suggests most were killed by the US helicopter gun ships, but that some of the bodies showed signs that they might have been killed by New Zealand snipers in the hills around the villages.

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The book reportedly contains the names and ages of all the killed and wounded, and the authors say the names have been officially verified by the district Governor.

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The authors say the New Zealand Defence Force was aware almost immediately that no insurgents were amongst the dead, but has continued to insist to this day that only Taliban fighters were killed in the raid.

They claim that politicians and senior military personnel conspired to keep the truth from the public.

At a press conference in New Zealand this afternoon, Mr Hager and Mr Stephenson insisted the book was not an attack on New Zealand troops and pointed out the some military personnel were horrified when they found out, and have sought to have the truth revealed.

In Australia, the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force is conducting an investigation into the culture of Australian special forces units, including allegations of unlawful killings in Afghanistan.