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US Rejects ICC ‘War Crimes’ Probe of Troops in Afghanistan
An International Criminal Court investigation of possible war crimes by U.S. forces in Afghanistan is not "warranted or appropriate," the U.S. State Department said on Tuesday after prosecutors in The Hague found initial grounds for such a probe. Reuters reported.
According to Reuters, State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said the United States was not a party to the Rome Statute that created the International Criminal Court in The Hague and had not consented to ICC jurisdiction. She also said Washington had a robust justice system able to deal with such complaints.
"The United States is deeply committed to complying with the law of war," Trudeau told reporters at a news briefing. "We do not believe that an ICC examination or investigation with respect to actions of U.S. personnel in relation to the situation in Afghanistan is warranted or appropriate."
Her comments came a day after prosecutors at the International Criminal Court said in a report that there was a "reasonable basis to believe" that U.S. forces had tortured at least 61 prisoners in Afghanistan and another 27 at CIA detention facilities elsewhere in 2003 and 2004.
The United States occupied Afghanistan in 2001 as it went after al Qaeda leaders behind the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Crimes also may have been committed at U.S. Central Intelligence Agency facilities in Poland, Lithuania and Romania, where some people captured in Afghanistan were taken, prosecutors said.
The U.S. Justice Department between 2009 and 2012 investigated CIA mistreatment of detainees, including a full criminal investigation into two deaths in U.S. custody, but ultimately decided against prosecuting anyone.
Some U.S. military personnel have been prosecuted for murder and other crimes in Afghanistan.
However, the Afghan parliament gives ICC the permission to review all domestic and foreign cases in the territory of the country.
"All of the nation have witnessed the security forces and NATO's bombings and arbitrary killings," said Abdul Qader Zazay, representative of Kabul.
"Americans' records in Afghanistan and Iraq indicate that there is the possibility that these cases are true," said Jafar Mahdawi, representative of Kabul in parliament.
The ICC was established in 1998 to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Trudeau noted the United States has "engaged with the ICC and we've supported ICC investigations and prosecution of cases that we believe advance our values in accordance with U.S. law."
Reuters
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Germany planning another deportation flight to Afghanistan
Germany is planning to fly a group of convicted criminals of Afghan nationality to their home country for the second time since the Islamic Emirate took power, newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday.
The newspaper quoted the interior ministry as saying it was working on the measure with the help of a regional partner and eyeing a departure shortly before Germany's Feb. 23 general election, according to Reuters.
A spokesperson for the ministry confirmed that it is working on further deportations, but added that they have nothing to do with the election and that the flights will be carried out as soon as all conditions will be met.
German politicians are sharpening their stance on migration after violent attacks linked to foreign suspects, with Friedrich Merz, the chancellor candidate for the two allied conservative parties (CDU/CSU) and the front-runner in the election, planning to submit a controversial migration motion in the parliament next week.
Some critics say this move could potentially open the door to cooperation with the far-right nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is now in second place in nationwide polls.
Berlin initially stopped returning people to Afghanistan because of human rights concerns after the Islamic Emirate took power in 2021.
It had, however, sent one deportation flight thanks to the mediation of Qatar in August last year, right before regional elections in eastern Germany that saw the ruling Social Democrats and their coalition partner, the Greens, faring poorly.
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Instead of criticizing the Islamic system, reform ideas should be shared with government: Abdul Kabir
Acting Minister of Refugees and Repatriation Mawlawi Abdul Kabir has said that instead of criticizing the Islamic system, efforts should be made to share reform ideas with the relevant government institutions.
Speaking at a madrassa graduation ceremony in Khost province, Abdul Kabir said that the Islamic Emirate maintains relations with the region and the world to solve problems in the light of Islam and in order to strengthen the Islamic system.
He added that the demands of the region and the world on Afghanistan are met by the policy of the Islamic Emirate and the international community is not concerned about use of Afghanistan's soil against countries.
He also stressed that the country's national budget is funded by the Islamic Emirate.
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CSTO to start Tajikistan-Afghanistan border security plan this year
Imangali Tasmagambetov, the Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), has emphasized implementing the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border reinforcement plan, stating that the plan will begin this year.
Speaking at a meeting to review the CSTO’s activities in 2024 held in Moscow, Tasmagambetov added that the plan includes special measures designed to ensure the security of the southern part of the CSTO's area of responsibility.
In 2024, documents related to equipping CSTO forces with advanced military weapons and equipment were reviewed and signed, he stated.
Meanwhile, CSTO members have consistently expressed concerns about the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, viewing it as a serious threat to their security.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate has repeatedly called these concerns baseless, asserting that Afghanistan will never allow its territory to be used against any country.
Zabiullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, stated: "The concerns expressed by the CSTO regarding the borders are unfounded. Afghanistan is fully secure, and there is a commitment that Afghan soil will never be used against any country. The Islamic Emirate remains committed to its pledges."
In 202, the draft plan for strengthening the Tajikistan-Afghanistan border was approved by the Permanent Council of the CSTO and presented to its member countries.
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