There should be an informed debate about the country's continued role in Afghanistan, the Australian Defence Association says, with 20 soldiers now killed in the conflict.

The Greens, who want troops withdrawn from Afghanistan, said yesterday that after nine years it was time a parliamentary debate was held on the war. All other 42 nations in the NATO-led coalition had done so.

Two more Australian soldiers were seriously wounded when a bomb exploded in the Baluchi Valley region of Oruzgan province on Saturday, just a day after Private Grant Kirby and Private Tomas Dale were killed in the same area.

The executive director of the Australian Defence Association, Neil James, who supports continued involvement in the war, said he too was in favour of a parliamentary debate. He said too many of those opposing Australia's involvement were ''ill-informed'' and did not have the facts.

Call for debate on war after Digger toll hits 20