ALLEGATIONS of unlawful killings of civilians, including children, and cover-ups by the British military in Afghanistan are “extremely serious” and law-breakers should be referred to authorities, the chairman of an independent inquiry demanded today.

Lord Justice Haddon-Cave said the “reputation of the armed forces and the country” is at stake, stressing that his probe, set to consider the activity of the armed forces in the central Asian state between 2010 and 2013, will “get to the bottom” of the claims.

The senior presiding judge for England and Wales said the inquiry — launched by Tory Defence Secretary Ben Wallace following legal challenges by Leigh Day solicitors on behalf of the Saifullah and Noorzai families — is equally important to “have the cloud of suspicion lifted” from innocent parties.

The investigation is tasked with determining whether investigations conducted by the Royal Military Police were properly and effectively executed, if soldiers carried out extrajudicial killings and if cover-ups were put in place.

Asked why the term “special forces” was not mentioned in his opening statement, Lord Haddon-Cove told reporters he had decided to focus on “armed forces” but he did not elaborate further.

The families of eight people, including three young boys, who were allegedly murdered by British special forces in two separate incidents during night raids in Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012, welcomed news of the inquiry when it was first announced.

A member of the Noorzai family said: “We live in hope that those responsible will one day be held to account,” while a member of the Saifullah family added: “I am extremely happy that there are people who value the loss of life of Afghans enough to investigate.”

Stop The War Coalition convener Lindsey German stressed that it was “well past time for the truth to come out.”

She told the Morning Star: “We don't know how many Afghans have been killed by Western military action, including by British troops, because no-one bothered to count.

“But so far there is no reference to British special forces, who allegedly carried out some of these crimes — we know the past history of these sorts of inquiry.

“The best way we can fight for justice is to demand the truth, welcome Afghans here as refugees and oppose future imperialist military occupations.”