UK Special Forces policy was to execute Afghan males of “fighting age” even if they posed no threat, an inquiry heard.
Troops are said to have abused night raids to kill.
One officer questioned a “rash of curtain-shootings” as insurgents were shot after supposedly emerging from behind a curtain with a weapon.
Counsel to the inquiry, Oliver Glasgow KC, said there were also claims that Afghan partner units "refused to serve with UK special forces due to their behaviour".
Ahead of the substantive hearings, which began at the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday, families who allege unlawful killings called on the probe to "provide us with the truth".
The probe will look at allegations that "numerous" killings were carried out, as well as the alleged cover-up of illegal activity and inadequate investigations by the Royal Military Police (RMP).
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It was launched in the wake of legal challenges to the Government by Leigh Day solicitors on behalf of the Saifullah and Noorzai families, as well as a number of significant media investigations.
Mr Glasgow said there were claims in a "restricted security compartment", which were recovered years later, that there were details of a conversation with a soldier who allegedly "admitted there was a policy in special forces to kill fighting age males".
In his opening submissions, he said: "Let there be no misunderstanding for those who have something to hide – the inquiry will use all its powers to make sure that if there is credible information of wrongdoing … no matter how senior their position, they are referred to the relevant authorities."
One member of the Saifullah family, who said his father, two brothers and cousin were killed during a night raid in February 2011, said since a raid by British forces, they are "having nightmares and dreams filled with difficulties".
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"My family and I request the inquiry team to provide us with the truth and explain to us why and on what basis we had to go through this cruelty," they said.
The Royal Courts of Justice probe will look at alleged illegal activity and cover-ups from 2010 to 2013, including submissions from families over the deaths of 33 Afghan nationals in that time.
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