In
this file photo taken on June 19, 2014, a US soldier investigates the scene of
an attack at the Afghan-Pakistan border crossing in Torkham, Nangarhar
province. (File photo by AFP)
Source:
Press TV
Appeals
judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have given the green light to
prosecutors to open an investigation into war crimes and crimes against
humanity by the US in Afghanistan.
"The
prosecutor is authorized to commence an investigation into alleged crimes
committed on the territory of Afghanistan since May 1, 2003," ICC judge
Piotr Hofmanski said in a ruling on Thursday.
"It
is for the prosecutor to determine whether there is a reasonable basis to
initiate an investigation" under the court's statutes, the judge added.
The
court upheld an appeal by prosecutors against a pretrial chamber's rejection in
April last year of chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's request to open a probe in
Afghanistan.
In
2006, the ICC's prosecutors opened a preliminary probe into possible war crimes
and crimes against humanity committed in the Asian nation since 2003.
In
2017, prosecutor Bensouda asked judges to allow a full-blown probe, not only
into Taliban and Afghan government personnel but also international forces, US
troops and members of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Bensouda's
move angered Washington, which in April last year revoked the Gambian-born
chief prosecutor's visa as part of broader restrictions on ICC staff probing
American or allied personnel.
Former
national security adviser John Bolton warned in 2018 that the US would arrest
ICC judges if the court pursued an Afghan probe.
New
York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) and other international rights bodies on
Thursday hailed the decision to uphold the prosecutions' appeal.
"The
decision also sends a much-needed signal to current and would-be perpetrators
of atrocities that justice may one day catch up to them," HRW's
Param-Preet Singh said.
The
US invaded Afghanistan to overthrow a ruling Taliban regime in 2001. American
forces have since remained bogged down in the country through the presidencies
of George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.
About
2,400 US soldiers have been killed, along with unknown tens of thousands of
Afghan troops, Taliban militants and Afghan civilians.
America
has spent more than $1 trillion in fighting in Afghanistan.
Fighting
has continued ever since -- last year more than 3,400 civilians were killed and
almost 7,000 injured, according to data provided by UN agencies.
Over
100,000 Afghans have also been killed or injured since 2009, when the UN
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan began documenting casualties.
The
direct US-Taliban talks were launched in 2018 as part of a push by US President
Trump's administration to strike a deal with the militant group.
Trump
has long expressed eagerness to bring US soldiers home and to end the country's
longest war as he seeks re-election in 2020.
After
nearly two decades of war, the United States and the Taliban last week signed
an agreement aimed at paving the way for complete withdrawal of American forces
from Afghanistan.
About
14,000 US troops and approximately 17,000 troops from NATO allies and partner countries
are stationed in Afghanistan.
The
Taliban now control or hold influence over more Afghan territory than at any
point since 2001.
Experts
say, however, that it is the Afghan government and the Taliban, rather than the
US and the militant group, who should address important questions on the future
of Afghanistan.
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