Bacha bazi is a cultural practice in Central Asia of high-ranking men keeping young boys as sex slaves. It is seen as a status symbol for these powerful men to have young boys perform and entertain them.

The United States has been training local militia and police forces in Afghanistan to patrol and oversee rural areas. It is high-ranking officers and soldiers committing these sex acts.

The US policy on bacha bazi is not to intervene. The US is trying to establish the Afghan security forces as the authority in the region. Stepping in on this matter would make it look like Afghan police are ineffective.

Several US soldiers have defied orders from their superiors and stepped in to stop abuse and rape. Those soldiers have been disciplined and their careers ruined.

Here is an image of a young boy dancing and performing for a group of older men.