December 17, 2021

War crimes in Afghanistan require accountability

topic:	Peace and Reconciliation
located:	Afghanistan
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

The whole world, and the citizens of the NATO-bloc countries in particular, must hold their governments accountable for the inhumane suffering caused by the failed democratisation experiment that their countries conducted in Afghanistan, which cost so many lives on all sides. The once-ferocious Taliban group are now ruling Afghanistan while the invading NATO forces are back safely at home - however the Afghan citizens who have endured the relentless turmoil of the past two decades have been left stranded to face the aftermath of the vicious war.

The emerging repercussions of the Taliban’s rise to power and the failed democratisation attempt are quite grim to say the least. 

World citizens must question their governments about why the Taliban regime was toppled in the first place, in 2001, if it was later allowed to retake power after 20 years, during which homes, schools, mosques, wedding and funeral ceremonies were bombed by forces of all sides. It is the unfortunate reality of our world that such mighty powers cannot be inquired or held accountable for whatever course of action they decide and execute with such sweeping command.

This is absolutely not meant to justify the other warring party or the regional hostile elements that continue to oppress the Afghan people through their fanatic ideas and brazen strategic interests. The powers involved in the invasion promised the Afghan people a future of peace and prosperity that resulted in mutual collaboration and great sacrifices in the hope to realise it.

It’s true that there were loopholes, corruption and petty politics; however, that did not call for such an abrupt rush towards the exit and then a freezing of all the state’s assets to pressure and discipline the Taliban.

The Taliban, the United States military and Afghan security forces were all responsible for the attacks that resulted in extensive civilian suffering before the country’s government collapsed earlier this year, Amnesty International said in a new report this month.

The report documents torture, extrajudicial executions and killings by the Taliban during the final stages of the conflict in Afghanistan, as well as civilian casualties during a series of ground and air operations by the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) and US military forces. Homes, hospitals, schools and shops were turned into crime scenes as people were repeatedly killed and injured.

Amnesty International has demanded that the International Criminal Court reverse its ‘misguided decision’ to deprioritise investigations into US and Afghan military operations, and instead follow the evidence on all possible war crimes, no matter where it leads.

We all need to ask those in power quarters: where are the justice and accountability for the twenty years of bloodshed in Afghanistan?

Photo by Andre Klimke

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