Pentagon watchdog will investigate Afghanistan child sex-abuse reports

The Pentagon’s Inspector General is launching a full-scale investigation into allegations that U.S. officials turned a blind eye to reports that Afghan security officials sexually abused children.

The Pentagon made the announcement after months of “preliminary research” into the reports. The IG’s research that began in October has reportedly revealed sufficient information to warrant conducting a “full assessment,” according to a Feb. 19 letter to top Defense Department officials from Kenneth Moorefield, the deputy inspector general for special plans and operations, the Military Times reported.

Pentagon investigators began probing reports of abuse after a number of American troops who deployed to Afghanistan reported seeing widespread sexual abuse of children. The troops believed the behavior continued because there was an unspoken policy encouraging U.S. troops to ignore the abuse rather than create tension between American and Afghan forces.

The top U.S. General in Afghanistan, John Campbell, denied that such a policy exists.

Several troops have said they were punished for intervening when they saw abuse taking place. In some cases, the troops reported seeing Afghans sexually assaulting children on joint military installations.

The IG probe comes at a time when the Army is preparing to make a final decision about a Green Beret who may be kicked out of the Army for beating an alleged child rapist in Afghanistan, Military Times reported.