Foreign soldiers not to be prosecuted in Afghanistan

KABUL: Attorney General Abdul Jabar Sabit has said the soldiers of the foreign military accused of crimes will not be prosecuted in Afghanistan.

Answering questions from members of the audit and assessment commission of the lower house of parliament, the attorney general said Afghan prosecutor could not interfere in cases pertaining to foreign military.

Representative of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said according to their agreement with the Afghan government, foreign soldiers, accused of crimes, would be prosecuted under the laws of their native country.

However, parliamentarian Abdul Sattar Khwasi said it was against the law of the land that a soldier committing crime against the Afghan people would not be prosecuted here.

In response to Khawasi’s remarks, Sabit asked the MPs to go through the agreement if they were not satisfied with his explanation.

At the same time, the AG asked for amendments to the existing law. He said due to loopholes in the existing law of punishment, many cases remain pending in courts and attorney general’s office for longer time.