War crimes report: Ashraf Ghani’s version of Scott Morrison’s call disputed

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani says Scott Morrison personally expressed his ‘deepest sorrow’ over allegations that 39 innocent Afghans were unlawfully killed by Australian troops.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Picture: AFP

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani says Scott Morrison personally expressed his “deepest sorrow” over allegations that 39 innocent Afghans were unlawfully killed by Australian troops.

The Prime Minister reached out to Dr Ghani on Wednesday night before the final report of the Brereton war crimes inquiry was released, as other members of the government also contacted their Afghan counterparts over the repor­t’s revelations.

A spokesman for the Afghan Presidential Palace said on ­Friday that Mr Morrison told Dr Ghani any Australian found guilty of war crimes in Afghan­istan would be held accountable.

“In this telephone call, the Prime Minister of Australia expressed his deepest sorrow over the misconduct by some Australian troops in Afghanistan and assured the President of the Islamic­ republic of Afghanistan of the investigations and to ensuring­ justice,” the Afghan statement said.

“Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, in a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, has extended apologies for the misconduct identified by the inquiry, by some Australian military personnel in Afghanistan.’’

But government sources told The Australian Mr Morrison did not express sorrow in the call and the discussion with Dr Ghani was primarily a high-level discussion between the two leaders on the process of the inquiry. Dr Ghani said he was counting on Australia’s justice system to follow­ up on the allegations.