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A confidential source has disclosed the Afghan leak inquiry that the UK failed to secure sensitive devices enabling the Taliban to track down Afghans that had served with allied troops.

Data Breach Puts Thousands in Danger

The source, called Person A, stated that individuals impacted by the security lapse were advised to relocate and change their contact details to avoid detection from militant forces.

Members of Parliament are currently examining official handling of a massive breach of personal details affecting approximately 19k individuals who had requested to move to the UK to flee the regime.

How the Leak Occurred

A spreadsheet with private information, including identities, phone numbers and sometimes family information, was accidentally leaked by a staff member stationed at British military command in February 2022.

The incident came to light only in August 2023, when details of nine people who had sought to move to Britain were posted on online platforms.

Militant Technology

“There seems to be a false assumption that Afghan rulers lack the same sort of facilities that western nations possess,” the whistleblower testified to the committee.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they possess it. Once they acquire your phone number, they can locate your exact position. This is exactly how specialized teams did.”

When questioned about if militant forces possessed advanced decryption, Person A stated: “They've got everything.”

Impact of the Security Lapse

Early investigations presented to the committee indicated that at least 49 kin and colleagues of Afghans affected by the incident had been murdered.

A gag order concerning the incident was put in force in August 2023 and restricted relevant facts regarding the matter from public disclosure until mid-2025.

Protective Actions

Due to legal constraints, Person A and the aid group associated with informed Afghan families they were supporting that they had “suspicions that mobile communications had been breached”.

“Our suggestion was that they relocate if they could and switched their mobile numbers. Those were the crucial data that, should militant forces obtained this information, would lead to their location being found,” Person A explained.

Contested Findings

Person A argued that government assessment carried out by a former official had been mistaken to determine that the obtaining of the information by the regime was “minimally impact current risk levels”.

“The crucial point is that these individuals are not standing up to the Taliban; they remain concealed. Everything boils down to their previous employment.”

The source explained horrific treatment suffered by concerned people, comprising electrocution, simulated drowning, and severe beatings.

“We have had young kids who have had bones crushed to try to get households to say where someone is,” Person A stated.