The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague said she will seek approval to open a formal investigation into allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan.
Fatou Bensouda said in a November 3 statement that there was a “reasonable basis to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity” were committed.
“In due course, I will file my request for judicial authorisation to open an investigation, submitting that there is a reasonable basis to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in connection with the armed conflict in Afghanistan,” Bensouda said in the statement.
Last year, Bensouda said in a report that there were preliminary grounds to believe US forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan and at secret “dark site” CIA detention facilities elsewhere in 2003 and 2004.
The report also noted alleged abuses by Afghan soldiers and the Taliban.
The prosecutor will focus on allegations committed since May 1, 2003 on the territory of Afghanistan and war crimes closely linked to the situation in Afghanistan allegedly committed since July 1, 2002 on the territory of other states.
Follow TKG on Twitter & Facebook
