Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for a comprehensive and impartial examination of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all parties to Afghanistan’s two-decade conflict, emphasizing that ongoing international review processes must form the basis for ensuring accountability and justice for all victims.
In a statement released on Thursday, HRW highlighted that upcoming findings from the Afghanistan War Commission, established by the United States Congress in 2021, alongside other international assessments, represent a critical opportunity to address long-standing gaps in accountability for violations committed during the 20-year war.
The Afghanistan War Commission is expected to publish its final report within the coming months, focusing on lessons learned from the conflict. Previous assessments by the commission have reportedly pointed to systemic failures in state-building efforts, including reliance on powerful local figures and shortcomings in establishing accountable institutions.
HRW noted that despite extensive documentation of abuses, interpretations of the conflict remain contested, with some former Afghan officials continuing to dispute assessments of the human rights situation prior to the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021.
The organization stressed that selective approaches to accountability risk undermining justice, arguing that examining only one side of the conflict would leave victims without meaningful redress. HRW emphasized that all parties involved in the conflict must be subject to equal scrutiny to ensure a credible and comprehensive justice process.
The statement also referenced previous international efforts to investigate alleged violations, including proceedings linked to the International Criminal Court (ICC). According to HRW, such efforts have at times faced political pressure and obstruction, limiting the scope of investigations into alleged abuses committed by a range of actors, including the Taliban, former Afghan government forces, and international military personnel.
HRW further warned that politicization of accountability mechanisms has repeatedly hindered progress toward a full and impartial examination of alleged crimes, calling instead for independent and sustained international engagement.
To achieve lasting justice in Afghanistan, the organization urged the establishment of a comprehensive and non-discriminatory accountability mechanism that ensures equal access to justice for all victims of the conflict, regardless of affiliation or background.
Human Rights Watch concluded that sustainable peace in Afghanistan cannot be achieved without addressing past violations in a transparent and inclusive manner, and reiterated that accountability for serious crimes is essential to preventing future abuses.
