UK MoD opens inquiry into Afghan killings at the hands of its troops
The ministry's statement said it will only be looking into the time period between 2010 and mid-2013.
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A British soldier in Kandahar, holding Afghanis hostage. (Lieber Institute)
The British Ministry of Defense announced Thursday an investigation into allegations that its special forces had committed tens of extrajudicial killings in their raids in Afghanistan after a BBC investigation has revealed vile details regarding the operatives' crimes in the country.
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The ministry released a statement announcing that it has launched an inquiry into the allegations and that it would "investigate and report on alleged unlawful activity by British Armed Forces" and "the adequacy of subsequent investigations into such allegations".
The statement noted that it will look into activities from 2010 to mid-2013 time period. The inquiry will be chaired by Lord Justice Hadden Cave, who will have a hand in the response.
The ministry opened the inquiry based on two cases brought against the Ministry of Defence by family members of people killed in the British raids.
In July, the BBC released a Panorama documentary revealing disturbing evidence of SAS war crimes in Afghanistan. The revelations were vehemently denied by the UK Ministry of Defense, which claimed that allegations of unlawful conduct by commandos had previously been thoroughly investigated.
In a statement, the ministry said: “Neither investigation found sufficient evidence to prosecute. Insinuating otherwise is irresponsible, incorrect, and puts our brave Armed Forces personnel at risk both in the field and reputationally.”
Conversely, the BBC argued that Royal Military Police (RMP) investigators had been obstructed by military leadership.
General Mark Carleton-Smith, then-head of the UK Special Forces, failed to share evidence of misconduct with the investigation, as per the BBC.
Read more: Numbers of Afghan children killed by UK forces higher than disclosed
The United States and its various western allies, including the United Kingdom, are behind many war crimes in Afghanistan, which they committed as part of their 20-year-long occupation of the country.
