ICC stops probe into alleged crimes by US troops in Afghanistan
Judges at the International Criminal Court (ICC) have halted investigations into alleged crimes by United States troops and the ISIL affiliate in Khorasan Province in Afghanistan, shifting focus entirely to Taliban actions since 2021. In a ruling released on Friday, the Hague-based judges cited significant limitations on the prosecution's ability to secure evidence. The prosecutor's office confirmed it has already appealed the decision. Launched in 2020, the probe originally covered alleged offences dating back to 2002 committed by Afghan forces, the Taliban, American personnel, and US intelligence operatives.
The decision follows severe friction with Washington, which does not recognize ICC jurisdiction. The US previously sanctioned 13 current and former ICC staff over investigations into American forces and arrest warrants for Israeli officials. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in October that President Donald Trump would never allow the prosecution of Americans, warning of efforts to dismantle the court. The inquiry into US forces had been dormant since 2021, when prosecutor Karim Khan deprioritised it; Khan was ousted earlier this year over misconduct allegations. Meanwhile, the court issued four arrest warrants for Taliban leaders last year.
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