Afghan soldiers who worked alongside British special forces during operations in Afghanistan have alleged mistreatment, describing their experience as being “treated like dogs,” according to declassified documents revealed during an ongoing inquiry. As reported by The Times UK, the allegations surfaced as part of an investigation into claims of unlawful killings by British troops during night-time raids between 2010 and 2013.
A former member of UK special forces, referred to as N1791 in the inquiry, disclosed that Afghan Partner Units (APUs) were often relegated to the rear of operations. This practice, he stated, left Afghan troops feeling sidelined and disrespected, particularly as their fellow countrymen were being killed in large numbers during these missions.
In his testimony, N1791 recounted how Afghan soldiers expressed their dissatisfaction. “The phrase that I do recall was, ‘We’re treated like dogs,’” he said. Afghan troops believed that greater involvement in the operations could have reduced the number of casualties among locals.
The inquiry, chaired by Lord Justice Haddon-Cave, has been examining allegations that British soldiers, particularly those in the Special Air Service (SAS), carried out summary executions and attempted to cover them up. Families of Afghan victims have accused British forces of conducting a “campaign of murder” and alleged that senior Ministry of Defence officials obstructed proper investigations.
Among the documents released were testimonies from special forces commanders and soldiers, shedding light on serious concerns raised within the military. A former operations chief of staff for the Special Boat Service described the SAS as having a “golden pass allowing them to get away with murder.”
Another officer testified that during a training course, he was informed of an incident in which “a pillow had been put over the head of someone before they had been killed with a pistol.”
Despite multiple investigations, including Operation Northmoor in 2014 and Operation Cestro, which referred three soldiers to the Service Prosecuting Authority, no charges were filed. Critics argue these failures reflect broader systemic issues in ensuring accountability for military actions.
