🔗 Share this article

A confidential source has told the Afghan leak inquiry that the UK abandoned confidential devices allowing Afghanistan's rulers to track down Afghans who worked with western forces.

Information Leak Endangers Numerous in Danger

The source, known as Person A, explained that individuals impacted by the data leak were told to move homes and alter their phone numbers to protect themselves from the Taliban.

Lawmakers are currently examining the UK government's handling of a massive breach of confidential data concerning approximately 19k Afghans who had requested to move to Britain to avoid the regime.

Data Disclosure Was Discovered

A spreadsheet including confidential details, such as identities, phone numbers and sometimes relative details, was inadvertently disclosed by a worker working at UK special forces headquarters in early 2022.

The incident came to light in late 2023, when the names of nine people who had sought to relocate to the UK were posted on social media.

Regime's Resources

It appears there is this misconception that militant forces are without comparable resources that we have,” she told MPs.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they possess it. Should they obtain your phone number, they are able to track you down to within metres. This is exactly how specialized teams did.”

During testimony about if militant forces owned necessary encryption, the source confirmed: “They have complete capability.”

Impact of the Information Leak

Initial findings presented to the inquiry estimated that no fewer than forty-nine relatives and associates of Afghans affected by the breach had been killed.

A legal restriction concerning the leak was put in force in late 2023 and restricted relevant facts regarding the matter from public disclosure until mid-2025.

Security Recommendations

Given injunction limitations, the whistleblower and the non-governmental organization she was working with told individuals at risk they were supporting that they had “apprehensions that certain devices had been compromised”.

“We advised that they change residence when possible and changed their phone numbers. That constituted the crucial data that, if authorities had access to these details, would lead to them being traced,” the source testified.

Contested Findings

The whistleblower contested that an official review conducted by a retired civil servant had been mistaken to determine that the obtaining of the records by the regime was “unlikely to substantially change current risk levels”.

“The thing to remember is that these individuals are in hiding from militant forces; they remain concealed. The primary issue involves their previous employment.”

She detailed horrific treatment endured by affected individuals, involving electrocution, waterboarding, and violent assaults.

“Instances include young kids who have had their arms broken to try to get households to say where someone is,” Person A stated.