British commandos had a policy of routinely killing civilians during anti-Taliban raids in Afghanistan, a former soldier has told a public inquiry.
The testimonies of seven soldiers and commanders released on Wednesday are part of an investigation into the conduct of the UK special forces, including the SAS, in Helmand province from 2010 to 2013.
“During these operations it was said that ‘all fighting age males are killed’ on target regardless of the threat they posed, this included those not holding weapons,” a soldier, known only as N1799, told the inquiry.
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“It was also indicated that ‘fighting age males’ were being executed on target, inside compounds, using a variety of methods after they had been restrained,” the witness added.
According to N1799, “in one case it was mentioned a pillow was put over the head of an individual before being killed with a pistol.” The witness said he had been “shocked by the age and methods” used to kill Afghans.
The witness said the troops used terms such as “flat packing” when describing the alleged executions.
Another former commando said the special forces had a “golden pass allowing them to get away with murder,” as quoted by the BBC.
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According to Reuters, none of the soldiers who provided testimony said they had witnessed the murders themselves.
The inquiry was told that some soldiers had raised concerns about the conduct of their colleagues. According to a testimony cited by the New York Times, a soldier raised a question in an email about whether SAS units were manufacturing scenarios that allowed them to kill Afghan combatants, another officer replied, “these Afghans are so stupid they deserve to die.”
The law firm Leigh Day, which represents the bereaved families, argued last year that there were at least 30 “suspicious incidents” which resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people.
British troops and other Western forces left Afghanistan in 2021, following two decades of Taliban insurgency. The UK lost 457 soldiers during its occupation of the country.