Afghan president voiced concern over civilians killed by SAS troops, inquiry told
Summary
The former Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, raised strong concerns about British special forces killing Afghan civilians during operations against the Taliban. A public inquiry revealed that Afghan soldiers became reluctant to work with British forces due to these concerns, and some tactics used by the SAS may have increased violence instead of reducing it.Key Facts
- Afghan president Hamid Karzai complained to NATO about civilian deaths caused by British special forces.
- Afghan partner forces stopped cooperating with British special forces by spring 2011.
- Evidence came from a British special forces officer who reviewed tactics that led to civilian deaths.
- A tactic involving Afghan men being separated during raids often led to them being killed, sometimes without finding weapons.
- The tactic intended to reduce violence ended up increasing military actions and tensions.
- Pressure to reduce British soldier deaths after many were killed in 2009-2010 influenced these tactics.
- The inquiry into these events started in December 2022 and is ongoing, with many hearings held in private.
- Allegations include Afghan men being killed while sleeping next to children and claims of a policy to kill all males on target regardless of threat.
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