Afghan Rulers Utilized Discarded British Technology to Track Down Local Nationals That Served With Western Troops, Inquiry Is Told

A confidential source has disclosed an official investigation that the UK left behind classified devices allowing the Taliban to track down Afghans who worked with international military.

Information Leak Puts Thousands at Risk

The whistleblower, called Person A, stated that Afghans affected by the data leak were told to change residences and alter their mobile numbers to protect themselves from the ruling authorities.

MPs are currently examining the UK government's response of a massive leak of private information involving nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to come to the UK to avoid the Taliban.

How the Leak Occurred

An electronic document with private information, comprising identities, contact details and in some cases relative details, was inadvertently disclosed by a staff member employed at special operations center in February 2022.

The leak was discovered only in August 2023, when identities of multiple applicants who had sought to relocate to the UK were posted on Facebook.

Militant Technology

“There seems to be this misconception that the Taliban do not have the same sort of facilities that we have,” Person A informed MPs.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; it's in their hands. Should they obtain a contact number, they can locate your precise location. That is what intelligence groups accomplished.”

When questioned about regarding if authorities had access to sophisticated technology, the source stated: “They have complete capability.”

Consequences of the Data Breach

Early investigations submitted to the investigation suggested that no fewer than forty-nine relatives and associates of Afghans affected by the breach had been killed.

A superinjunction about the breach was put in force in late 2023 and restricted all details concerning it from being made public until July 2025.

Protective Actions

Given injunction limitations, the source and the aid group she collaborated with told affected households they were supporting that they had “suspicions that somebody's phone had been intercepted”.

“Our suggestion was that they relocate when possible and changed their mobile numbers. These represented the two main details that, should militant forces acquired such data, would cause them being traced,” she said.

Contested Findings

The whistleblower argued that an official review performed by an ex-government employee had been wrong to determine that the possession of the dataset by militant forces was “unlikely to substantially change an individual's existing exposure”.

“The thing to remember is that these individuals are not standing up to militant forces; they are in hiding. Everything boils down to past work history.”

The source explained disturbing violence experienced by concerned people, including electric shock torture, simulated drowning, and physical abuse.

“We have had toddlers who have had bones crushed to try to get relatives to disclose hiding places,” she testified.