The UN supports the investigation of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) whether US military forces have committed war crimes in Afghanistan, the Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, said.

"This is, of course, part of the work that the court does, and we support the efforts of the court to investigate any such atrocities, wherever they may be held. It's always good to see the court pursuing these leads, but we'll have to see where they go with that," Haq told the press briefing.

In an annual report released on Monday, the ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensuda has made clear she is considering opening a full-blown investigation. The question will be whether US military forces and CIA operatives have committed war crimes. Specifically, she believes the CIA and the US armed forced used beating and rape as a means of interrogation.

The US has not ratified the ICC’s Rome Statute, although Afghanistan recognizes the court’s jurisdiction. Because Afghanistan is an ICC member, US citizens could face prosecution.