World · South & Central Asia · 9 hrs ago
ICC judges close Afghanistan probe involving US troops
International Criminal Court judges closed part of the Afghanistan investigation that could have examined alleged crimes by US troops.
The decision was made in The Hague and also closes an inquiry involving the Islamic State Khorasan group, according to court documents.
The remaining separate probe focuses on alleged Taliban crimes since 2021, including allegations of gender persecution.
The wider investigation was authorized in 2020 and covered alleged offenses by Afghan government forces, the Taliban, US troops and US intelligence operatives.
Prosecutors have appealed the judges’ decision, but have not given further details.
The decision comes amid US sanctions against the court over investigations involving US personnel and Israeli officials.
Four arrest warrants for Taliban leaders remain in effect, and it is unclear whether closing part of the case will ease US opposition to the ICC.
International Criminal Court judges have closed part of the Afghanistan investigation that could have examined alleged crimes by U.S. troops.
The decision also closes an inquiry into the Islamic State Khorasan militia, according to the Straits Times, while the Associated Press says the probe is now limited to crimes committed by the Taliban.
The prosecutor’s office has appealed the decision.
Judges said prosecutors had not shown they could effectively investigate allegations in Afghanistan outside the Taliban probe.
The Taliban inquiry will proceed separately, and arrest warrants against four senior Taliban leaders remain in effect.
- Who
- International Criminal Court judges closed part of the Afghanistan investigation. The prosecutor’s office has appealed.
- What
- The judges ended inquiries that included alleged crimes by U.S. troops and, according to the Straits Times, ISIS-K.
- When
- The decision was issued Thursday and made public Friday, Nov. 13, 2026.
- Where
- Afghanistan; the decision was issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
- Why
- Judges said prosecutors had not shown they could effectively investigate allegations in Afghanistan apart from the Taliban probe.
ICC judges
ICC prosecutor’s office
Decision
ICC judges
Judges closed part of the Afghanistan case, citing prosecutors’ inability to show they could effectively investigate allegations outside the Taliban probe.
ICC prosecutor’s office
The prosecutor’s office appealed the decision.
ICC judges authorized an investigation into alleged offenses in Afghanistan dating back to 2002.
Then-chief prosecutor Karim Khan chose to deprioritize aspects of the investigation that could have involved Americans.
Judges ordered prosecutors to split the Afghanistan inquiries into two probes.
Judges issued the decision closing part of the Afghanistan investigation.
The decision was made public, and the prosecutor’s office said it had appealed.
- Decision
- Issued Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026; made public Friday
- Taliban warrants
- Four senior Taliban leaders
- Taliban inquiry
- Separate probe focused on alleged crimes since 2021
- ICC authorization
- 2020
- Afghanistan investigation period
- Alleged offenses dating back to 2002
3 sources
What people are saying
dismantle the ICC — brick by brick, if necessary.
significant limitations to the Prosecution’s ability to conduct its investigations and secure evidence