Taliban Employed Left-Behind British Equipment to Locate Local Nationals Who Worked With Western Troops, Investigation Hears
An informant has told a parliamentary probe that British authorities left behind sensitive technology allowing Afghanistan's rulers to identify local individuals who worked with western forces.
Information Leak Puts Thousands in Danger
The source, called Person A, explained that people concerned by the information breach were told to change residences and alter their contact details to ensure their safety from the ruling authorities.
Lawmakers are currently examining official response of a serious disclosure of personal details involving nearly 19,000 individuals who had requested to move to Britain to escape the regime.
How the Leak Was Discovered
A spreadsheet containing private information, including identities, contact details and occasionally relative details, was mistakenly released by an official stationed at British military command in February 2022.
The incident came to light in late 2023, when details of multiple applicants who had requested to settle in Britain surfaced on online platforms.
Taliban Capabilities
It appears there is a false assumption that Afghan rulers lack comparable resources that western nations possess,” she told the committee.
“We left it all behind in Afghanistan; they possess it. Should they obtain a contact number, they are able to track your exact position. That's precisely what intelligence groups accomplished.”
During testimony about regarding if authorities possessed advanced decryption, Person A declared: “They have complete capability.”
Consequences of the Data Breach
Initial findings presented to the investigation estimated that at least 49 kin and colleagues of individuals impacted by the leak had been executed.
A superinjunction concerning the incident was enacted in August 2023 and prevented all details about it from public disclosure until July 2025.
Safety Measures
Because she was restricted, the source and the volunteer organization she collaborated with informed Afghan families they were working with that they had “concerns that certain devices had been intercepted”.
“Our suggestion was that they relocate when possible and changed their mobile numbers. That constituted the crucial data that, if authorities had access to this information, would lead to identification and capture,” Person A explained.
Challenged Assessments
Person A argued that an official review carried out by an ex-government employee had been incorrect to determine that the obtaining of the records by militant forces was “minimally impact present danger”.
“The crucial point is that these Afghans are not confronting the authorities; they live secretly. Everything boils down to their previous employment.”
Person A described terrible treatment experienced by affected individuals, involving electrocution, waterboarding, and violent assaults.
“We have had toddlers who have had their arms broken to try to get relatives to say where someone is,” she testified.