Afghanistan: Return of Foreign Fighters and Torture Concerns

In recent weeks Northern Alliance and other anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan have captured hundreds of foreign fighters with the Taliban or al-Qaeda. The United States has announced that it would detain upwards of 500 captured fighters and has been screening persons taken into custody by Afghan forces. Those implicated in criminal acts, including violations of international humanitarian law and crimes against humanity, should be prosecuted by tribunals in Afghanistan or elsewhere that meet international fair trial standards.