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A confidential source has revealed an official investigation that the UK abandoned confidential devices allowing the militant group to locate Afghans who collaborated with international military.

Information Leak Puts Numerous in Danger

The source, identified as Person A, stated that people concerned by the data leak were advised to relocate and change their phone numbers to avoid detection from the Taliban.

MPs are looking into the Conservative government's management of a massive disclosure of private information involving almost nineteen thousand Afghans who had applied to move to the UK to escape militant rule.

Data Disclosure Happened

A data file with private information, such as names, contact details and in some cases household data, was accidentally leaked by a staff member working at British military command in February 2022.

The leak became known months later, when the names of nine people who had requested to relocate to Britain appeared on online platforms.

Regime's Resources

It appears there is this misconception that the Taliban lack similar capabilities that we have,” she told the committee.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they have it. If they have your phone number, they can locate your precise location. This is exactly how the unit did.”

During testimony about whether the Taliban had access to advanced decryption, the whistleblower confirmed: “They possess all resources.”

Consequences of the Security Lapse

Preliminary research provided to the investigation estimated that no fewer than forty-nine kin and co-workers of people concerned by the breach had been executed.

A legal restriction regarding the leak was put in force in August 2023 and restricted any information regarding the matter from media reporting until July 2025.

Safety Measures

Due to legal constraints, the whistleblower and the aid group she was working with advised Afghan families they were working with that they had “suspicions that somebody's phone had been intercepted”.

“We recommended that they relocate where feasible and altered their mobile numbers. That constituted the primary information that, if authorities obtained these details, would lead to identification and capture,” Person A explained.

Challenged Assessments

Person A argued that internal investigation performed by an ex-government employee had been incorrect to state that the possession of the information by the regime was “not significantly alter an individual's existing exposure”.

“The crucial point is that these Afghans are not confronting militant forces; they are in hiding. The primary issue involves past work history.”

Person A described horrific abuse suffered by affected individuals, including electric shock torture, waterboarding, and physical abuse.

“There are cases of toddlers who have had bones crushed to pressure the family to disclose hiding places,” Person A stated.