ianstone
10-04-2010, 05:51 AM
Afghan soldier 'executed' prisoner at British base in Helmand province
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
Last updated at 9:47 AM on 4th October 2010
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An Afghan soldier 'executed' a prisoner on a British base in Helmand province, Ministry of Defence documents disclose.
It is understood that UK troops did not directly witness the killing but were close by at the time.
British military investigators carried out an inquiry into the shooting of the detainee on a small UK-controlled patrol base in Musa Qala in March.
It is believed that the Afghan soldier who carried out the killing was handed over to the local authorities, although it is not clear what happened to him.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/03/article-0-03E8E199000005DC-159_468x315.jpg British forces patrol the Helmand town of Musa Qala in Southern Afghanistan, where the Afghan soldier executed a prisoner earlier this year
Details of the incident emerged in a training manual for troops deploying to Afghanistan released by the MoD as part of the Baha Mousa public inquiry into abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
The document, which has a 'restricted' security classification, outlines how UK forces should treat detainees captured during operations.
Referring to the current situation in Afghanistan, it says: 'Allegations of detainee abuse by ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) and Isaf (the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force) troops continue - some reported to ICRC (the International Commission of the Red Cross).
'Alleged that during Mar 10 a [sic] ANA (Afghan National Army) soldier 'executed' a detainee who was in their custody within a British-controlled PB (patrol base).'
Campaigners have raised concerns about the treatment of Afghan prisoners captured by British forces.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/03/article-0-0B7458DC000005DC-368_468x353.jpg Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard meets Corporal Craig Turnball and his explosives detection dog during her visit to Multinational Base Tarin Kowt in southern Afghanistan
Anti-war activist Maya Evans brought a High Court challenge to the UK's policy of transferring Taliban suspects to the Afghan authorities, saying it had led to 'horrible abuse' of detainees in violation of international law and human rights.
In June the court upheld the policy - but it banned the military from handing over prisoners to Afghanistan's spy agency, the National Directorate of Security, in Kabul, where there was a 'real risk of torture or other serious mistreatment'.
Musa Qala was under control of soldiers from the Household Cavalry at the time of the killing of the detainee in March. The district was handed over to the US Marines shortly afterwards.
A massive programme to expand the Afghan security forces - the goal is that their numbers should grow from fewer than 200,000 at the start of this year to 300,000 by the end of 2011 - is under way.
But concerns have been expressed about the quality and allegiance of some recruits.
In July an Afghan soldier murdered three British troops from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles at a base near Helmand's capital, Lashkar Gah.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/03/article-0-0B72AD30000005DC-128_468x313.jpg Members of the U.S. Navy carry a comrade wounded by an explosion to a medevac helicopter in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan
An MoD spokesman said: 'UK forces were in the vicinity when a member of the ANA shot and killed a detainee at a patrol base in Musa Qala in March this year.
'UK investigators provided immediate assistance at the scene and passed evidence gathered to the Afghan National Army, as was appropriate, for further investigation.
'Working as part of Isaf, we will continue to offer support, advice and mentoring to the ANA on the proper treatment of those in their custody.
'The overwhelming majority of soldiers serving in the ANA are loyal, courageous and professional.
'The ANA is developing well as a fighting force in Afghanistan and is becoming increasingly capable of participating in operations with Isaf forces as is shown by their growing independence in operations.'
He added: 'We will continue to work closely with the government of Afghanistan and the international community to build the capacity of the ANA and police.'
Meanwhile, a British soldier has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said today.
The soldier was from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
He died in the blast while on patrol in Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province yesterday.
The soldier's next of kin have been informed.
A total of 339 British troops have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001.
Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Eastman, said: 'It is with a deep sense of regret that I must confirm the death of a soldier from 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles yesterday afternoon.
'The soldier was patrolling within the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province, as part of the ongoing mission to protect and reassure the local population, when he was struck by an explosion.
'He has made the ultimate sacrifice while steadfastly fulfilling his duty protecting others.
'His loss will be greatly felt by all who knew him; he will not be forgotten.'
Ealsewhere, Australia's prime minister met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and pledged to continue supporting the U.S.-led mission there in her first overseas trip as the nation's leader.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited Australian troops in southern Uruzgan province on Saturday, before flying to Kabul to meet with Karzai and General David Petraeus, the commander for Nato's troops in Afghanistan.
Gillard was also briefed by local commanders on progress against the insurgency, and had a private dinner with Karzai, where she pledged Australia's continued support.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1317300/Afghan-soldier-executed-prisoner-British-base-Helmand-province.html#ixzz11Nkvwb1H
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
Last updated at 9:47 AM on 4th October 2010
Comments (1) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1317300/Afghan-soldier-executed-prisoner-British-base-Helmand-province.html#comments)
Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1317300/Afghan-soldier-executed-prisoner-British-base-Helmand-province.html)
An Afghan soldier 'executed' a prisoner on a British base in Helmand province, Ministry of Defence documents disclose.
It is understood that UK troops did not directly witness the killing but were close by at the time.
British military investigators carried out an inquiry into the shooting of the detainee on a small UK-controlled patrol base in Musa Qala in March.
It is believed that the Afghan soldier who carried out the killing was handed over to the local authorities, although it is not clear what happened to him.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/03/article-0-03E8E199000005DC-159_468x315.jpg British forces patrol the Helmand town of Musa Qala in Southern Afghanistan, where the Afghan soldier executed a prisoner earlier this year
Details of the incident emerged in a training manual for troops deploying to Afghanistan released by the MoD as part of the Baha Mousa public inquiry into abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
The document, which has a 'restricted' security classification, outlines how UK forces should treat detainees captured during operations.
Referring to the current situation in Afghanistan, it says: 'Allegations of detainee abuse by ANSF (Afghan National Security Forces) and Isaf (the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force) troops continue - some reported to ICRC (the International Commission of the Red Cross).
'Alleged that during Mar 10 a [sic] ANA (Afghan National Army) soldier 'executed' a detainee who was in their custody within a British-controlled PB (patrol base).'
Campaigners have raised concerns about the treatment of Afghan prisoners captured by British forces.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/03/article-0-0B7458DC000005DC-368_468x353.jpg Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard meets Corporal Craig Turnball and his explosives detection dog during her visit to Multinational Base Tarin Kowt in southern Afghanistan
Anti-war activist Maya Evans brought a High Court challenge to the UK's policy of transferring Taliban suspects to the Afghan authorities, saying it had led to 'horrible abuse' of detainees in violation of international law and human rights.
In June the court upheld the policy - but it banned the military from handing over prisoners to Afghanistan's spy agency, the National Directorate of Security, in Kabul, where there was a 'real risk of torture or other serious mistreatment'.
Musa Qala was under control of soldiers from the Household Cavalry at the time of the killing of the detainee in March. The district was handed over to the US Marines shortly afterwards.
A massive programme to expand the Afghan security forces - the goal is that their numbers should grow from fewer than 200,000 at the start of this year to 300,000 by the end of 2011 - is under way.
But concerns have been expressed about the quality and allegiance of some recruits.
In July an Afghan soldier murdered three British troops from 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles at a base near Helmand's capital, Lashkar Gah.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/03/article-0-0B72AD30000005DC-128_468x313.jpg Members of the U.S. Navy carry a comrade wounded by an explosion to a medevac helicopter in Kandahar province in southern Afghanistan
An MoD spokesman said: 'UK forces were in the vicinity when a member of the ANA shot and killed a detainee at a patrol base in Musa Qala in March this year.
'UK investigators provided immediate assistance at the scene and passed evidence gathered to the Afghan National Army, as was appropriate, for further investigation.
'Working as part of Isaf, we will continue to offer support, advice and mentoring to the ANA on the proper treatment of those in their custody.
'The overwhelming majority of soldiers serving in the ANA are loyal, courageous and professional.
'The ANA is developing well as a fighting force in Afghanistan and is becoming increasingly capable of participating in operations with Isaf forces as is shown by their growing independence in operations.'
He added: 'We will continue to work closely with the government of Afghanistan and the international community to build the capacity of the ANA and police.'
Meanwhile, a British soldier has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said today.
The soldier was from the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles.
He died in the blast while on patrol in Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province yesterday.
The soldier's next of kin have been informed.
A total of 339 British troops have died since the start of operations in Afghanistan in 2001.
Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel David Eastman, said: 'It is with a deep sense of regret that I must confirm the death of a soldier from 1st Battalion the Royal Gurkha Rifles yesterday afternoon.
'The soldier was patrolling within the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province, as part of the ongoing mission to protect and reassure the local population, when he was struck by an explosion.
'He has made the ultimate sacrifice while steadfastly fulfilling his duty protecting others.
'His loss will be greatly felt by all who knew him; he will not be forgotten.'
Ealsewhere, Australia's prime minister met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and pledged to continue supporting the U.S.-led mission there in her first overseas trip as the nation's leader.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard visited Australian troops in southern Uruzgan province on Saturday, before flying to Kabul to meet with Karzai and General David Petraeus, the commander for Nato's troops in Afghanistan.
Gillard was also briefed by local commanders on progress against the insurgency, and had a private dinner with Karzai, where she pledged Australia's continued support.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1317300/Afghan-soldier-executed-prisoner-British-base-Helmand-province.html#ixzz11Nkvwb1H