After more than four years of investigation into war crimes, a senior Australian military officer has admitted that his army was involved in criminal activities in Afghanistan. The head of the Australian Army, General Angus Campbell, admitted there is strong evidence that his troops stationed in Afghanistan killed at least 39 Afghan civilians illegally.
According to Campbell, I sincerely apologize unconditionally for any wrongdoing by Australian security forces against the Afghan people. The Inspector-General of the Australian Security Force was investigating war crimes allegations by the Australian Army in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.
He said, the next step would be to prosecute those responsible for war crimes. The investigation found that 25 Special Forces soldiers in the Australian Army were involved in the murders of prisoners, farmers and other unarmed civilians.
At the same time there is strong evidence of 23 illegal killings of civilians in which at least 39 Afghan civilians were killed. The war crimes began in 2009 but most people died between 2012 and 2013.
Australian Army Chief General Angus Campbell said after the investigation report came out, “Such alleged behavior disrespected the trust reposed in us by the Afghan people.” The Afghans asked their country to help us. He said that the alleged crime not only raised fingers of doubt on the mission, but Afghan families and communities had to suffer pain and sorrow.
