Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission is to investigate the death of a small boy who has died after a firefight between Australian troops and insurgents.
The boy, believed to be 23 months old, was shot during an exchange between Australian soldiers, partnered with Afghan police, and insurgents near the village of Sah Zafar on March 27.
He was treated at the scene by an Australian Special Operations Task Group medic and evacuated to a medical facility in Tarin Kowt, before being moved to a medical facility in Kandahar.
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Following consultation with medical staff his family made the decision to cease life support on April 2.
It remains unclear whether the boy was struck by fire from Australian forces or insurgents.
ABC Radio reported that the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission had launched an investigation.
Head of the commission's special investigation team Shafiq Noori said every civilian casualty was a tragedy.
The Australian Defence Force is also conducting an investigation into the child's death.
