2025 Edition

The Asia Pacific Journal of International Humanitarian Law is pleased to announce that the following articles have been accepted for publication in the 2025 Edition.

You may find the list of accepted articles and their abstract below:

1. Of Divine Wars: A Comparison of Hindu Teachings with International Humanitarian Law and Jus Ad Bellum by Wamika Sachdev

Abstract: IHL studies have benefited greatly by drawing parallels with the rules of war in different religions. This article expands this scholarship by further considering the ideas of morality and humanity through the lens of Mahabharata, a text of Hindu origin. This research unravels intriguing insights related to what constitutes Dharma and Dharmayuddha (righteous warfare), the bridge between jus in bello and jus ad bellum, and how IHL is compromised by the realities of war. It argues that the true value of IHL comes from accepting both the ideal and real and accepting accountability for one's actions in war. In doing so, the study discovers how the concept of Dharma may be beneficial, how studying ancient ethics of war is important for the incorporation of humanity in war, why the Bhagavad Gita born out of the Epic is essential to study the correlation of IHL with jus ad bellum, and how this entire context exists in the realities of war.

Keywords: Bhagavad Gita, Comparative IHL, Humanity, Hinduism, Jus Ad Bellum, Mahabharata, Morality in Law, Rules of Battle, Sacred Texts

2. The Polymorphic Environmental Impact of the USSR and US Wars on Afghanistan: A Forgotten Prism of International Law by Sayed Qudrat Hashimy and Jackson Simango Magoge

Abstract: The wars in Afghanistan, first by the USSR (1979-1989) and later by the US (2001-2021), have left indelible marks on the country’s environment. These armed conflicts have resulted in widespread ecological damage, affecting land, water, and air quality. The US military’s largest base in Afghanistan, Bagram Airfield, and the destruction of the agrarian system serves as a case study for the environmental impact of military activities.  This paper explores the multifaceted environmental impacts of the USSR and US-led Coalition Forces interventions in Afghanistan, and examines these impacts through the lens of international law. The analysis highlights the long-term ecological consequences, the legal frameworks governing wartime environmental protection, and the current gaps in international legal responses to environmental degradation caused by armed conflicts. Concepts of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and environmental treaties like the 1977 ENMOD Convention and Geneva Protocols have been discussed for their inadequacies and calling for substantial reforms for better protection of the environment during conflicts.

Keywords: Environmental Impact, Armed Conflict, Afghanistan, International Humanitarian Law, International environmental crime