International Criminal Court Halts Investigation into Alleged US Forces’ Crimes in Afghanistan
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has halted its investigation into alleged crimes committed by American forces in Afghanistan. According to documents released by the court, this decision also ends the inquiry into alleged crimes by the ISIS-Khorasan branch.
The decision was issued on Thursday and made public on Friday. The court cited significant limitations on the prosecutor’s ability to conduct investigations and access evidence as the reason for the suspension.
Statements provided to the Associated Press and Reuters indicate that the Office of the Prosecutor has challenged this decision.
This ruling comes amid strained relations between Washington and the Hague-based court. The United States had previously sanctioned 13 current and former court officials over investigations into alleged U.S. military crimes and arrest warrants issued against Israeli officials.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier stated that President Donald Trump would never allow the ICC to prosecute American citizens. In an October statement, Rubio warned that Washington would continue efforts to dismantle the court as long as Americans remain at risk of prosecution.
It remains unclear whether the ICC’s latest decision will influence the U.S. stance toward the court. The United States is not a member of the ICC and does not recognize its jurisdiction; however, under the court’s statute, it can prosecute individuals accused of serious international crimes committed on the territory of member states.
The investigation into Afghanistan began in 2020. Karim Khan, then the ICC prosecutor, announced in 2021 that due to difficulties in accessing evidence, his office would deprioritize investigations into U.S. forces. Khan was removed from his position earlier this year amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
