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Australia announces compensation plan for Afghan war crime victims
The Australian Defense Department has unveiled a compensation plan for families of victims who were unlawfully killed or abused by Australian special forces in Afghanistan, Australian media reported Sunday.
Over the past 20 years, more than 39,000 Australian soldiers served in Afghanistan. As part of peacekeeping efforts alongside the United States and other allies, 400 Australian soldiers were deployed until their withdrawal in 2021.
During that time, an investigation revealed that Australian soldiers committed war crimes, including the murder and abuse of numerous Afghan civilians. Incidents included shooting prisoners, planting weapons, radios, and grenades next to bodies to suggest they were legitimate
targets.
The investigation highlighted systemic issues, such as inadequate mentorship and a “warrior culture” focused on status and power rather than exemplary soldiering.
The 2020 Brereton Report, led by Major General Paul Brereton, implicated 25 Australian soldiers in the murders of 39 Afghans and recommended criminal investigations.
Before pursuing legal action, the Australian Defense Force Inspector General recommended compensating the victims’ families. A defense department spokesperson confirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the report’s findings “to the fullest possible extent,”
including compensation.
The Australian government is expected to make further announcements in the coming months.
Deputy Spokesman of the Islamic Emirate Hamdullah Fitrat, however, says that this action is not enough and that Australia’s crimes in Afghanistan are far more.
“Australian government has confessed to its crimes and announced the compensation, but this is a small issue and it [paying compensation] cannot cover all their crimes in Afghanistan,” said Fitrat.
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Terrorist activities continue to be observed along Afghanistan borders and along the India–Pakistan–Afghanistan corridor, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview published on Monday.
Speaking to Russia-based media outlet TV BRICS, Lavrov pointed to ongoing concerns in the Middle East, including its Asian regions.
He highlighted the importance of collaboration with India at the United Nations to advance a global counter-terrorism convention.
Lavrov stated that while the draft convention has already been prepared, consensus on its adoption has not yet been reached.
Russia has repeatedly expressed concern about militant threats from Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate, however, has dismissed the concerns saying that it will not allow Afghanistan’s soil to be used against any country.
Noorullah Noori, Afghanistan’s Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, held a phone conversation with Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, to discuss bilateral border cooperation.
According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening border collaboration, with a particular focus on the ongoing renovation and updating of border markers. They also agreed to accelerate joint technical and legal meetings to enhance coordination.
As part of the agreement, the next meeting of senior border officials from Afghanistan and Iran is scheduled to take place in Iran in 1405 (2026–2027).
The Director General of the OIC Mission in Kabul, Mohammed Saeed Alayyash, met on Sunday with Rolf Dieter Reinhard, Head of the German Liaison Office for Afghanistan in Doha and Acting Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Afghanistan.
During the discussion, both sides exchanged views on the latest developments in Afghanistan. They focused on the security situation, as well as the humanitarian and economic conditions faced by the Afghan people.
The two officials also reviewed recent political developments and broader challenges in the country, highlighting the need for continued international engagement and support.
The meeting emphasized the importance of ongoing cooperation and coordination between the OIC Mission and the German side in addressing Afghanistan’s challenges and in supporting efforts to promote stability and improve the humanitarian situation.
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