The Hague:
International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan stated today that he has asked the court to let him resume the inquiry into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan as he does not locate the new authorities in Kabul match to litigate independently.
“Today, I filed an application for an expedited order before Pre-Trial Chamber II of the ICC seeking authorization for my Office to resume its investigation in the Situation in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” Mr Khan stated in a statement.
The prosecutor’s workplace began the Afghan investigation on March 5, 2020. Three weeks later, the government asked the ICC to let it investigate the crimes on its personal and the court agreed. Mr Khan praised the former government for its work but named into query the capacity of the new government to make sure an “adequate and effective” continuation of the probe.
“Recent developments in Afghanistan and the change in the national authorities, represent a significant change of circumstances with import for our ongoing assessment of the deferral request. After reviewing matters carefully, I have reached the conclusion that, at this time, there is no longer the prospect of genuine and effective domestic investigations into Article 5 crimes within Afghanistan,” the prosecutor stated.
He expressed readiness, having said that, to “constructively engage” with the new government “in accordance with the principle of complementarity”.
The Taliban formed an interim government in Afghanistan earlier this month. The ICC hopes to investigate the atrocities committed by the Islamist movement in the years preceding its takeover in August, which includes indiscriminate attacks on civilians, targeted extrajudicial executions, persecution of ladies and girls, and crimes against children.
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