Fri 31 July 2020:
A damning report into a raid in Afghanistan led by New Zealand special forces has revealed an Afghan child was among at least eight people killed in the operation and that the Defence Force misled senior leaders and ministers about the incident.
Investigators in New Zealand have concluded that the country’s military repeatedly misled government ministers and the public for years over civilian casualties in a special forces raid in Afghanistan 10 years ago.
Operation Burnham was carried out by New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and allied forces in Afghanistan’s Tirgiran Valley on August 21-22, 2010.
An inquiry was launched in 2018 after the publication of the Hit and Run book by Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson, which said the operation resulted in civilian casualties.
Attorney General David Parker said on Friday that while the actions of troops on the ground were “professional and lawful”, there were “significant shortcomings” in how the NZDF handled the allegations even though there was evidence suggesting up to five non-combatants died, including a girl.
While there was no “organised institutional strategy” to cover up civilian casualties, the NZDF made incorrect and misleading statements to the public, stating the allegations had been investigated and found to be “baseless” or “unfounded”, Parker said.
The NZDF said for years reports of civilian casualties were baseless but on Friday defence force chief Air Marshal Kevin Short said there had been “organisational and administrative failings”.
The findings released by the government were the result of an independent inquiry into allegations made by two journalists about “Operation Burnham”, a raid that took place on 21-22 August 2010 in Tirgiran Valley, Afghanistan. The helicopter-backed operation was carried out by NZSAS troops and other nations’ forces operating as part of the International Security Assistance Force.
The inquiry found that it was likely a female child possibly eight to 10 years old was killed during the operation. It also considers that the way a prisoner was treated and handled shows New Zealand’s detention policy was inappropriate and did not reflect New Zealand’s values. Captured insurgent Qari Miraj was handed over Afghan authorities based on the knowledge he was likely to be tortured.
The NZDF has sent about 3,500 personnel to Afghanistan since 2001. Eight have died in combat. There remain just over 10 New Zealand troops in Afghanistan training local army officers, in a deployment due to last until the end of 2020.
Think your friends would be interested? Share this story!
