THE HAGUE, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The pre-trial chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague rejected the request of the prosecutor for an investigation into alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Afghanistan, the ICC announced on Friday.

"The judges decided that an investigation into the situation in Afghanistan at this stage would not serve the interests of justice," the ICC stated in a press statement.

In November 2017 the prosecutor had requested for an investigation into the alleged crimes committed during the long-lasting armed conflict in Afghanistan. The period the prosecutor wanted to be investigated was from May 1, 2003 on the territory of Afghanistan and also from July 1, 2002 on the territory of other states, with alleged war crimes closely linked to the situation in Afghanistan.

The chamber now argued that "noting the time elapsed since the opening of the preliminary examination in 2006 and the political changing scene in Afghanistan since then, the lack of cooperation that the prosecutor has received and which is likely to go scarcer should an investigation be authorized hampering the chances of successful investigation and prosecution".

In addition, the chamber added that the current circumstances of the situation in Afghanistan are such as to make the prospects for a successful investigation and prosecution extremely limited.