War Crime Cases Against Australian and British Soldiers in Afghanistan Remain Unresolved After Five Years
War crime allegations against Australian and British special forces in Afghanistan have remained under investigation for over five years without reaching a final verdict, raising concerns about delays in delivering justice.
In Australia, nearly four months have passed since the arrest of Ben Robert-Smith, a former Australian Defence Force officer accused of committing five war crimes during his mission in Afghanistan. However, his case is still in its early stages, with the next court hearing scheduled for another month from now.
Australian media have reported that due to the complexity of the case, the large volume of documents, and the involvement of national security evidence, the main trial of the former officer is expected to extend until 2029.
Additionally, the case of Oliver Schultz, another former Australian army officer accused in 2023 of killing an Afghan civilian in Uruzgan province, remains unresolved. Schultz appeared in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in Sydney in early October 2025, but national security concerns have limited prosecutors and defense lawyers from accessing a significant portion of the evidence.
Jalaluddin, a relative of the victims in Uruzgan, said, “We need help. Even now, you can see the effects of those attacks in this region. We ask the world to ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”
Similar allegations are not limited to Australian forces. British special forces have also faced war crime claims in Afghanistan. In 2023, the UK government launched a process called the “Independent Afghanistan Investigation,” but this review has yet to produce a final outcome.
