THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court (ICC) will soon announce applications for arrest warrants in its investigation into alleged crimes in Afghanistan, ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said on Monday at an ICC event.
Khan praised the “excellent work” of his team and noted that recent developments, including a formal referral by six ICC member states, have advanced the investigation. “With the excellent work of the team that’s been working consistently, we will be announcing applications for arrest warrants in the Afghanistan situation very soon,” Khan said.
A global push for accountability
The remarks follow a formal referral last Friday from six nations — Chile, Costa Rica, Spain, France, Luxembourg, and Mexico — urging the ICC to investigate crimes against women and girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. The states cited grave concerns about deteriorating human rights conditions, particularly systematic discrimination and persecution of women and girls.
“This reflects my Office’s broader commitment to pursuing accountability for gender-based crimes, including the crime against humanity of persecution on gender grounds,” Khan said in a statement last week.
A long-running investigation
The ICC authorized an investigation into Afghanistan in March 2020 after years of preliminary examinations into alleged crimes committed since May 2003. The probe was delayed by Afghanistan’s previous government but resumed in October 2022 following the Taliban’s takeover. Since then, Khan said his office has made “very considerable progress” in investigating gender-based crimes and crimes related to armed conflict.
The investigation includes alleged offenses on Afghan territory and those committed elsewhere by parties linked to the conflict. Khan has emphasized the need for international cooperation and resources to advance the ICC’s mission.
Khan highlighted the growing number of state referrals to the ICC in the past year, signaling increased international support for accountability. “In the last 12 months, we see more states coming forward to refer matters to the court,” Khan said, describing the Afghanistan referral as an important step toward justice.
