Australia has announced it will compensate the families of innocent Afghans killed during its military missions in Afghanistan.
The government has announced that compensation will be provided to Afghans who were unlawfully killed or affected by Australian forces, detailing the process of how this compensation will be delivered.
Additionally, the government has stated that a lawyer will be appointed to assess the compensation claims.
A spokesperson for the defence minister of Australia said: “The establishment of the Afghanistan Inquiry compensation scheme represents a significant step forward in closing out these recommendations.”
Meanwhile, some experts suggest that the Islamic Emirate should establish a specific committee for the survivors of war crimes committed by countries with a military presence in Afghanistan.
Sayed Qareebullah Sadat, a political analyst, said: “The rights of those who lost their lives or limbs must be considered.”
Main Gul Samakni, another political analyst, said: “It is good that Australia and the UK are now recognizing their culpability in committing crimes in Afghanistan by paying compensation.”
The Islamic Emirate called on countries that committed war crimes in Afghanistan to compensate the victims’ families.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Islamic Emirate, said: “Afghans have endured horrors and crimes from various occupying countries over the past twenty years. All countries involved in the occupation and whose soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan should financially compensate the Afghans. Australia’s recent admission to some of its soldiers’ crimes and their talk of compensating victims is just a small step.”
Compensation for victims’ families was first proposed in a 2020 report by Australian judge Paul Brereton.
This report exposed war crimes committed by Australian forces between 2005 and 2016, resulting in the deaths of 39 Afghans.