The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has revealed the existence of approximately 97 million previously undisclosed files relevant to an ongoing inquiry into alleged unlawful killings by UK special forces in Afghanistan. The discovery, made in July and disclosed to the inquiry’s chairman, Lord Justice Charles Haddon-Cave, in early August, has raised concerns about the scope of evidence yet to be reviewed and the potential impact on the investigation’s timeline.
The independent inquiry, established in 2023, is examining claims that UK special forces committed war crimes between 2010 and 2013 during operations in Afghanistan. It has so far cost £58 million and has produced witness statements and documents but has not yet released any formal findings.
Opening a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, Lord Haddon-Cave described the late revelation of the extensive document database as “troubling and regrettable,” warning that if not addressed expeditiously, it could delay the inquiry’s progress. The MoD’s legal representative, Stephen Gray KC, told the inquiry that while the database is large, the majority of the content is likely irrelevant to the investigation. Keyword searches have already resulted in the addition of roughly 1,200 new documents. Mr Gray further clarified that this newly found repository does not include special forces IT systems, which had previously been searched independently.
Despite these assurances, Edward Craven KC, representing Afghan families who are parties to the inquiry, called the news “staggering and profoundly worrying.” He expressed skepticism about the MoD’s ability to thoroughly review such a large volume of data within the inquiry’s established deadline of April 30, 2027. Mr Craven highlighted a potential conflict between ensuring a comprehensive examination and meeting the timetable.
The inquiry has previously heard testimony from a senior special forces officer identified as N1466, who served as assistant chief of staff for operations at UKSF headquarters between 2010 and 2011. The officer reported raising concerns in early 2011 about apparent discrepancies in reported deaths of Afghans during operations, including suspicious accounts of detainee deaths and alleged attempts by forces to disguise unlawful killings. According to N1466, the special forces leadership conducted a superficial review described as a “fake exercise” rather than fully investigating the allegations.
An MoD spokesperson affirmed the department’s commitment to supporting the inquiry and acknowledged shortcomings in communication about the newly discovered records. The spokesperson noted the complexity of retrieving documents from legacy systems covering two decades of operations in Afghanistan, emphasizing that the process of identifying and disclosing relevant material is ongoing.
The inquiry continues to balance the need for thoroughness with procedural deadlines as it seeks to establish the facts surrounding the alleged war crimes.