UK Discovers 97 Million New Documents Linked to Investigation into Special Forces in Afghanistan
The UK Ministry of Defence has announced the discovery of 97 million new documents, some of which may be relevant to the public inquiry into allegations concerning the country’s special forces in Afghanistan.
According to a letter published by lawyers representing the UK Ministry of Defence, the documents were found within a large collection of information that had previously been believed to be largely outside the scope of the inquiry.
Charles Haddon-Cave, chair of the inquiry, has expressed concern over the delay in identifying and providing the documents. He said the late emergence of the material could further delay the inquiry, which has now reached an advanced stage, if it is not managed quickly.
The inquiry was launched in 2023 following the broadcast of a BBC documentary. The documentary alleged that Britain’s Special Air Service, known as the SAS, had killed 54 people in suspicious circumstances during the war in Afghanistan more than a decade ago.
The inquiry chair said that at Friday’s hearing, he would ask the UK Ministry of Defence to ensure that relevant documents are identified quickly and made available to the inquiry team, and that such a situation does not happen again.
The inquiry was expected to produce at least one interim report within 18 months. However, nearly four years after its launch, no findings have yet been published.
The UK Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the matter ahead of Friday’s hearing.
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