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An informant has told an official investigation that British authorities left behind classified equipment enabling Afghanistan's rulers to locate Afghans that had served with allied troops.

Data Breach Puts Thousands at Risk

The whistleblower, called Person A, explained that people concerned by the data leak were instructed to change residences and change their contact details to protect themselves from militant forces.

Members of Parliament are investigating official handling of a serious leak of personal details affecting nearly 19,000 Afghans who had requested to relocate to the United Kingdom to avoid the Taliban.

Data Disclosure Happened

A data file including private information, such as identities, contact details and occasionally household data, was mistakenly released by a staff member working at British military command in early 2022.

The incident became known in late 2023, when details of several individuals who had sought to relocate to Britain were posted on online platforms.

Taliban Capabilities

Many believe there's a false assumption that militant forces lack comparable resources that western nations possess,” Person A informed MPs.

“We left it all behind in Afghanistan; they possess it. Once they acquire your phone number, they are able to track your exact position. This is exactly how specialized teams did.”

When questioned about if militant forces had access to sophisticated technology, the whistleblower declared: “They possess all resources.”

Aftermath of the Security Lapse

Preliminary research presented to the committee estimated that approximately fifty family members and co-workers of Afghans affected by the leak had been executed.

A superinjunction regarding the breach was enacted in late 2023 and blocked all details about it from being made public until July 2025.

Protective Actions

Given injunction limitations, the whistleblower and the aid group associated with advised affected households they were working with that they had “concerns that somebody's phone had been compromised”.

“Our suggestion was that they relocate where feasible and altered their mobile numbers. That constituted the primary information that, if the Taliban acquired these details, would cause them being traced,” she said.

Contested Findings

The source contested that internal investigation conducted by an ex-government employee had been wrong to state that the possession of the information by militant forces was “minimally impact an individual's existing exposure”.

“The important fact is that these individuals are not standing up to the authorities; they live secretly. The primary issue involves former occupations.”

The source explained terrible violence endured by affected individuals, comprising electrocution, interrogation techniques, and violent assaults.

“We have had toddlers who have had bones crushed to try to get the family to reveal locations,” Person A stated.