The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Friday said that she would request approval t open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

AVA- In a statement, Fatou Bensouda said that there is a “reasonable basis” to believe that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in the Afghan conflict.

The probe will focus on incidents happened since May 2003 on the territory of Afghanistan, and war crimes closely linked to the situation in Afghanistan allegedly committed since July 2002 on the territory of other states.

Bensouda said following the judges’ approval, her office will open investigation in an “independent, impartial and objective way, crimes within the court’s jurisdiction allegedly committed by any party to the armed conflict.”

She said that the ultimate focus will be upon those most responsible for the most serious crimes.

The ICC was set up in 2 as the world’s permanent court for prosecuting the most serious war crimes.

It is backed by the European Union and dozens of other nations, but powers like U.S., Russia and China have not joined it.

ICC’s expected investigation in Afghanistan may lead also to the court’s first indictment of Americans for war crimes.