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A confidential source has told a parliamentary probe that the UK abandoned sensitive equipment allowing Afghanistan's rulers to track down local individuals who worked with western forces.

Information Leak Puts Thousands in Danger

The source, called Person A, explained that Afghans affected by the data leak were advised to move homes and change their phone numbers to protect themselves from militant forces.

Lawmakers are investigating the UK government's handling of a massive breach of confidential data involving almost nineteen thousand individuals who had applied to come to the UK to flee the Taliban.

How the Leak Occurred

A spreadsheet containing confidential details, comprising identities, addresses and occasionally family information, was accidentally leaked by a worker working at UK special forces headquarters in early 2022.

The incident became known months later, when details of several individuals who had requested to move to the UK appeared on social media.

Militant Technology

Many believe there's a misunderstanding that Afghan rulers lack the same sort of facilities that western nations possess,” the whistleblower testified to lawmakers.

“We left it all behind in Afghanistan; it's in their hands. Once they acquire a contact number, they can trace you down to within metres. This is exactly how intelligence groups did.”

Under inquiry about if militant forces had access to sophisticated technology, the source declared: “They have complete capability.”

Aftermath of the Information Leak

Early investigations submitted to the investigation estimated that approximately fifty kin and colleagues of Afghans affected by the leak had been killed.

A legal restriction about the leak was implemented in late 2023 and blocked any information regarding the matter from media reporting until mid-2025.

Security Recommendations

Due to legal constraints, Person A and the non-governmental organization she collaborated with advised Afghan families they were supporting that they had “suspicions that mobile communications had been intercepted”.

“Our suggestion was that they relocate where feasible and switched their phone numbers. That constituted the two main details that, if authorities obtained such data, would cause their location being found,” the source testified.

Contested Findings

Person A disputed that internal investigation conducted by an ex-government employee had been incorrect to determine that the obtaining of the records by militant forces was “not significantly alter present danger”.

“The thing to remember is that these individuals are not confronting militant forces; they live secretly. The primary issue involves their previous employment.”

Person A described horrific violence endured by concerned people, involving electric shock torture, waterboarding, and violent assaults.

“We have had young kids who have had their arms broken to pressure households to say where someone is,” the whistleblower revealed.