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A confidential source has disclosed an official investigation that British authorities left behind classified equipment enabling the Taliban to track down Afghans that had served with western forces.

Information Leak Puts Numerous in Danger

The whistleblower, known as Person A, stated that individuals impacted by the data leak were told to relocate and change their mobile numbers to avoid detection from the ruling authorities.

Lawmakers are looking into the UK government's management of a massive leak of personal details affecting almost nineteen thousand Afghans who had requested to move to Britain to escape militant rule.

Data Disclosure Occurred

An electronic document containing their personal data, comprising names, addresses and occasionally relative details, was inadvertently disclosed by a staff member working at British military command in February 2022.

The leak became known months later, when the names of several individuals who had sought to relocate to Britain appeared on social media.

Regime's Resources

It appears there is a false assumption that Afghan rulers are without comparable resources that we have,” Person A informed lawmakers.

All equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan; they possess it. If they have a contact number, they are able to track your precise location. This is exactly how the unit achieved.”

Under inquiry about regarding if authorities had access to sophisticated technology, the source stated: “They've got everything.”

Consequences of the Security Lapse

Initial findings provided to the committee suggested that at least 49 relatives and co-workers of individuals impacted by the incident had been killed.

A superinjunction about the leak was enacted in August 2023 and blocked relevant facts regarding the matter from public disclosure until July 2025.

Safety Measures

Because she was restricted, the source and the non-governmental organization associated with told Afghan families they were assisting that they had “apprehensions that certain devices had been compromised”.

“We advised that they change residence where feasible and changed their contact details. Those were the crucial data that, should militant forces obtained this information, would cause their location being found,” the source testified.

Challenged Assessments

The source contested that an official review carried out by a former official had been incorrect to conclude that the acquisition of the dataset by militant forces was “minimally impact an individual's existing exposure”.

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

The source explained disturbing violence suffered by concerned people, involving electrocution, waterboarding, and violent assaults.

“Instances include four-year-old children who have had their arms broken to force relatives to reveal locations,” she testified.