US-led forces in Afghanistan abusing detainees: ICC
The International Criminal Court (ICC) says it has evidence indicating that US-led foreign forces in Afghanistan have subjected detainees to physical and psychological abuse.
In an annual report on the court’s various preliminary investigations released on Thursday, the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor said the US-led troops had caused serious harm to Afghan prisoners in the violence-wracked Asian country.
“The infliction of ‘enhanced interrogation techniques’ ... would have caused serious physical and psychological injury,” the report said, adding that the policy of the perpetrators was to focus on those “most responsible” for serious crimes.
The inquiries conducted by the United States into the alleged violations by its personnel in Afghanistan had not resulted in any convictions or risen high up the chain of command, the report went on to say.
The report comes as the ICC has been investigating alleged crimes committed since 2003 by all parties to the US-led invasion of Afghanistan.
Elsewhere, the report further said that there was evidence of violations committed by both Taliban militants and forces supporting the Afghan government, adding that neither side was seriously investigating the allegations.
Afghanistan is gripped by insecurity nearly 14 years after the United States and its allies attacked the country in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. Although the offensive overthrew the Taliban, many areas across Afghanistan still face violence and insecurity.
At least 13,500 foreign forces remain in Afghanistan despite the end of the US-led combat mission, which came on December 31, 2014. The forces, mainly from the US, are there for what Washington calls a support mission.
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