UK Special Forces Accused of War Crimes in Afghanistan: Ex-Officer Testifies

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A former senior British officer has come forward in a public inquiry, alleging that British special forces in Afghanistan committed war crimes by executing suspects during night-time raids from 2010 to 2013. The former officer, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims that these killings were not investigated properly by the military police, despite numerous concerns raised by soldiers at the time. The inquiry, launched by the UK Defence Ministry (MoD), is examining allegations of extra-judicial killings by British forces during the war in Afghanistan. It has heard from multiple witnesses, including former officers and a defence ministry official, who have expressed concerns about the treatment of detainees and the rivalry between special forces units. According to the former officer, there were suspicions about the number of detainees killed during operations, with reports suggesting that the number of enemies killed in action exceeded the number of weapons recovered. He also claims that reports of detainees attempting to pick up weapons or use grenades after capture were not credible. The officer, who regrets not reporting his concerns to the military police at the time, said: 'We are talking about war crimes. We are talking about taking detainees back on target and executing them with a pretence.' He also expressed his regret that the issue was not addressed properly, and that it may have been more widespread than initially thought. The inquiry continues to investigate these allegations and will aim to determine whether there was credible information of extra-judicial killings, and if investigations by the military police were properly conducted. The chair of the inquiry, senior judge Charles Haddon-Cave, has emphasized the importance of holding those responsible accountable for their actions, while also clearing the names of those who have done nothing wrong.