LONDON — Amnesty International on Tuesday called for full accountability after a BBC investigation revealed allegations of extrajudicial killings and systemic cover-ups by U.K. Special Forces in Afghanistan, warning that the reported actions could constitute war crimes.
Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Amnesty International UK, said the “profoundly serious” claims — which include the alleged deliberate killing of detainees, including children and wounded individuals — point to “grave breaches of international humanitarian law.”
The BBC’s Panorama program detailed accounts of detainees being unlawfully executed during British military operations, raising questions about oversight within the U.K. Ministry of Defence and suggesting a pattern of institutional concealment. Reports include falsified records, planted evidence, and efforts to suppress internal investigations.
“It’s deeply concerning that these allegations span many years,” Deshmukh said, noting the implications of a “systemic cover-up.”
Amnesty welcomed the current public inquiry into the alleged abuses but stressed it must remain fully independent and equipped to compel testimony, including from classified sources. The group urged the prosecution of those responsible, “regardless of rank,” through transparent legal proceedings either in the U.K. or at the International Criminal Court.
“Justice must not be delayed,” Deshmukh added. “The victims of these alleged abuses, and the public, deserve full truth, transparency, and accountability.”
The Ministry of Defence has previously stated it takes such allegations seriously and supports the ongoing inquiry.
