🔗 Share this article Afghan Rulers Utilized Abandoned British Technology to Locate Local Nationals Who Worked Alongside Allied Troops, Inquiry Is Told A confidential source has told an official investigation that the UK left behind sensitive devices permitting Afghanistan's rulers to locate Afghans that had served with western forces. Information Leak Puts Thousands in Danger The source, identified as Person A, explained that individuals impacted by the security lapse were instructed to move homes and switch their mobile numbers to avoid detection from militant forces. Members of Parliament are investigating the UK government's management of a massive breach of confidential data involving approximately 19k individuals who had asked to come to the UK to avoid militant rule. Data Disclosure Occurred A spreadsheet with private information, such as names, phone numbers and occasionally family information, was inadvertently disclosed by an official employed at British military command in February 2022. The breach came to light months later, when details of multiple applicants who had requested to relocate to Britain appeared on Facebook. Regime's Resources It appears there is a false assumption that militant forces do not have similar capabilities that western nations possess,” the whistleblower testified to MPs. “We left it all behind in Afghanistan; it's in their hands. If they have a contact number, they are able to track you down to within metres. This is exactly how the unit accomplished.” Under inquiry about if militant forces possessed sophisticated technology, the whistleblower stated: “They've got everything.” Consequences of the Data Breach Preliminary research presented to the committee indicated that approximately fifty kin and co-workers of Afghans affected by the leak had been murdered. A legal restriction concerning the breach was implemented in August 2023 and blocked relevant facts about it from media reporting until July 2025. Safety Measures Due to legal constraints, Person A and the aid group she was working with advised Afghan families they were supporting that they had “concerns that somebody's phone had been breached”. “Our suggestion was that they relocate when possible and changed their phone numbers. Those were the crucial data that, should militant forces had access to this information, would result in their location being found,” Person A explained. Challenged Assessments The source disputed that government assessment performed by an ex-government employee had been mistaken to conclude that the obtaining of the dataset by the Taliban was “minimally impact an individual's existing exposure”. “The important fact is that these Afghans are not standing up to militant forces; they are in hiding. All concerns relate to former occupations.” The source explained horrific abuse suffered by concerned people, comprising electric shock torture, waterboarding, and violent assaults. “Instances include toddlers who have had limbs fractured to try to get the family to reveal locations,” she testified.