Human Rights Watch, 5 October 2026
25 years since the latest war in Afghanistan began on 7 October 2001, the United States and coalition countries have yet to provide genuine justice or redress for war crimes and other grave abuses, Human Rights Watch said today, issuing a timeline of its reporting of the conflict.
After Al-Qaeda’s September 11 attacks on the United States, the US government authorized the use of interrogation methods of suspected militants amounting to torture. Human Rights Watch and others also documented torture and other ill-treatment by US forces in Afghanistan, including beatings, humiliation, waterboarding, prolonged sleep deprivation, and mock executions. Many civilian detainees were released only after months or years without ever being charged with a crime. The US government has never provided full accountability or compensation for these abuses.
This feature compiles Human Rights Watch reporting on international human rights and humanitarian law issues by all parties during the conflict and the continuing need for accountability.
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This article was last updated on 8 Oct 2026
