Information: War crimes in Afghanistan covered up

TT

Published 11.43

 

A British soldier in Kabul in 2015. Photo: Massoud Hossaini/AP/TT

Senior leaders in the British special forces covered up suspected war crimes in Afghanistan, according to information from a whistleblower.

Two former commanders in the British special forces, like others, failed to take action after information that units committed extrajudicial executions in Afghanistan more than a decade ago, according to the whistleblower.

The testimony has been given to a public inquiry that has been ongoing since 2023 at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The investigation into events between 2010 and 2013 is being led by a British judge after allegations from relatives of some of those who are said to have been killed by British special forces, often during night raids.

The whistleblower, a former officer, says he has concluded that “the issue of extrajudicial killings was not limited to a few soldiers or a single sub-unit ... but was potentially more widespread.”

According to the whistleblower, senior officers have obstructed his attempts to “do the right thing.” He says he has “lost confidence” in their willingness to report the allegations to military investigators.

Concerns about possible “war crimes” were reportedly reported to the head of the special forces as early as 2011, but no action was taken.