🔗 Share this article Afghan Rulers Used Discarded British Technology to Locate Local Nationals That Served With Allied Troops, Inquiry Learns A whistleblower has revealed the Afghan leak inquiry that the UK abandoned classified equipment enabling the Taliban to identify local individuals who worked with international military. Data Breach Endangers Numerous in Danger Person A, called Person A, stated that Afghans affected by the security lapse were instructed to relocate and alter their phone numbers to ensure their safety from militant forces. Lawmakers are investigating the Conservative government's management of a serious disclosure of private information affecting nearly 19,000 individuals who had requested to come to the UK to avoid the Taliban. The Information Breach Happened A data file containing their personal data, including names, phone numbers and sometimes family information, was mistakenly released by an official employed at British military command in early 2022. The incident came to light only in August 2023, when details of several individuals who had requested to settle in Britain were posted on online platforms. Regime's Resources Many believe there's a false assumption that militant forces are without the same sort of facilities that western nations possess,” the whistleblower testified to the committee. All equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan; it's in their hands. If they have your phone number, they can trace you down to within metres. This is exactly how the unit achieved.” During testimony about regarding if authorities had access to advanced decryption, Person A declared: “They've got everything.” Impact of the Data Breach Preliminary research presented to the inquiry indicated that approximately fifty kin and associates of individuals impacted by the leak had been murdered. A superinjunction concerning the leak was put in force in August 2023 and prevented all details about it from public disclosure until July 2025. Protective Actions Due to legal constraints, Person A and the aid group she collaborated with told individuals at risk they were assisting that they had “concerns that certain devices had been breached”. “We recommended that they moved if they could and altered their contact details. That constituted the crucial data that, if the Taliban had access to these details, would result in identification and capture,” the source testified. Challenged Assessments Person A contested that an official review carried out by a former official had been incorrect to determine that the acquisition of the dataset by the Taliban was “minimally impact an individual's existing exposure”. “The important fact is that these individuals are not standing up to the authorities; they are in hiding. The primary issue involves their previous employment.” The source explained horrific treatment experienced by concerned people, including electric shock torture, simulated drowning, and physical abuse. “Instances include toddlers who have had limbs fractured to pressure the family to reveal locations,” the whistleblower revealed.