Former defence secretary rejects claims he lacked curiosity over alleged SF Afghan killings

Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace has rejected an accusation that he "lacked curiosity" when responding to allegations of a cover-up of special forces murders in Afghanistan.

Ex-veterans' minister Johnny Mercer wrote to Sir Ben in August 2020 shortly after emails surfaced in The Sunday Times.

The emails purportedly showed senior special forces officers expressed serious concerns about the killings of 33 people in 11 night raids in Afghanistan in 2011.

Mr Mercer had previously told the Independent Inquiry Relating to Afghanistan (Afghanistan Inquiry) he was angry with Sir Ben, as well as the director of special forces and the chief of the general staff.

He said they had "not done their job that was incumbent upon them with their rank and privileges in those organisations".

But Sir Ben hit back at Mr Mercer, describing the claims that he lacked curiosity as "highly inaccurate".

"I was absolutely inquisitive," he insisted.

The inquiry is examining whether a special forces unit, known to the probe as UKSF1, had a policy of executing males of fighting age who posed no threat in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013.

Some Afghan families accused UK special forces of conducting a "campaign of murder" against civilians, while senior officers and personnel at the Ministry of Defence sought to prevent adequate investigation.

Two Royal Military Police investigations, codenamed Operation Northmoor and Operation Cestro, are also being scrutinised by the inquiry.

No charges were brought under Operation Northmoor – a £10m investigation which was set up in 2014 to examine allegations of executions by special forces, including those of children.

Operation Cestro saw three soldiers referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority, but none of them were prosecuted.

The inquiry continues.