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A whistleblower has told a parliamentary probe that the UK left behind classified equipment enabling Afghanistan's rulers to identify Afghans who collaborated with western forces.

Data Breach Endangers Thousands at Risk

Person A, known as Person A, explained that Afghans affected by the security lapse were advised to change residences and switch their contact details to avoid detection from the Taliban.

MPs are looking into official handling of a massive leak of personal details affecting nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to come to Britain to avoid the regime.

The Information Breach Occurred

A spreadsheet containing private information, including names, phone numbers and in some cases household data, was accidentally leaked by a staff member working at special operations center in February 2022.

The leak was discovered only in August 2023, when the names of several individuals who had applied to move to the UK were posted on social media.

Taliban Capabilities

It appears there is a misunderstanding that the Taliban are without similar capabilities that allied forces use,” the whistleblower testified to lawmakers.

All equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan; they have it. Once they acquire your phone number, they can trace your exact position. This is exactly how intelligence groups accomplished.”

When questioned about if militant forces possessed sophisticated technology, Person A stated: “They possess all resources.”

Consequences of the Information Leak

Initial findings provided to the inquiry estimated that no fewer than forty-nine kin and associates of individuals impacted by the breach had been killed.

A superinjunction regarding the incident was put in force in August 2023 and prevented all details about it from being made public until mid-2025.

Protective Actions

Because she was restricted, Person A and the volunteer organization she was working with informed individuals at risk they were assisting that they had “apprehensions that mobile communications had been breached”.

“We advised that they relocate when possible and altered their phone numbers. Those were the crucial data that, if the Taliban obtained these details, would cause them being traced,” she said.

Contested Findings

The source contested that government assessment carried out by a retired civil servant had been wrong to determine that the obtaining of the information by the Taliban was “not significantly alter current risk levels”.

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

Person A described horrific abuse suffered by concerned people, including electrocution, interrogation techniques, and violent assaults.

“There are cases of young kids who have had bones crushed to force households to disclose hiding places,” the whistleblower revealed.