🔗 Share this article

A confidential source has revealed the Afghan leak inquiry that British authorities left behind sensitive equipment enabling Afghanistan's rulers to identify local individuals who worked with allied troops.

Information Leak Endangers Numerous at Risk

The whistleblower, called Person A, testified that individuals impacted by the information breach were told to move homes and change their phone numbers to protect themselves from the ruling authorities.

MPs are currently examining official management of a massive disclosure of private information affecting approximately 19k individuals who had asked to come to the UK to escape the regime.

Data Disclosure Was Discovered

A data file containing their personal data, comprising identities, addresses and sometimes relative details, was mistakenly released by an official stationed at British military command in early 2022.

The leak became known only in August 2023, when details of nine people who had sought to move to Britain appeared on social media.

Militant Technology

“There seems to be a misunderstanding that the Taliban do not have comparable resources that we have,” Person A informed lawmakers.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they possess it. If they have a contact number, they can locate your exact position. That's precisely what the unit achieved.”

Under inquiry about regarding if authorities owned advanced decryption, Person A declared: “They have complete capability.”

Consequences of the Security Lapse

Initial findings provided to the investigation estimated that no fewer than forty-nine family members and associates of individuals impacted by the breach had been executed.

A legal restriction about the incident was implemented in late 2023 and blocked any information regarding the matter from public disclosure until July 2025.

Protective Actions

Given injunction limitations, Person A and the aid group she collaborated with advised affected households they were working with that they had “suspicions that certain devices had been intercepted”.

“We advised that they change residence if they could and changed their mobile numbers. That constituted the primary information that, if the Taliban had access to such data, would cause identification and capture,” Person A explained.

Contested Findings

The whistleblower disputed that internal investigation carried out by a retired civil servant had been incorrect to determine that the acquisition of the information by the regime was “minimally impact current risk levels”.

“The thing to remember is that affected people are in hiding from the Taliban; they live secretly. The primary issue involves their previous employment.”

Person A described terrible violence suffered by at-risk Afghans, including electrocution, simulated drowning, and physical abuse.

“Instances include young kids who have had their arms broken to try to get relatives to disclose hiding places,” the whistleblower revealed.