Taliban Used Abandoned UK Gear to Locate Afghans Who Worked With Allied Forces, Investigation Learns

A confidential source has told the Afghan leak inquiry that the UK left behind classified equipment allowing the militant group to track down Afghans who worked with allied troops.

Data Breach Puts Numerous in Danger

The whistleblower, called Person A, explained that individuals impacted by the information breach were advised to change residences and change their contact details to ensure their safety from the Taliban.

MPs are currently examining the UK government's handling of a massive disclosure of private information involving nearly 19,000 Afghans who had asked to relocate to the United Kingdom to escape the Taliban.

The Information Breach Occurred

A data file containing confidential details, including identities, contact details and occasionally family information, was accidentally leaked by a staff member employed at special operations center in early 2022.

The incident became known in late 2023, when details of multiple applicants who had applied to settle in the UK appeared on Facebook.

Regime's Resources

Many believe there's this misconception that the Taliban lack the same sort of facilities that we have,” the whistleblower testified to lawmakers.

“We left it all behind in Afghanistan; they possess it. Should they obtain mobile details, they can locate you down to within metres. That is what specialized teams did.”

When questioned about if militant forces owned sophisticated technology, the source confirmed: “They've got everything.”

Aftermath of the Data Breach

Initial findings provided to the investigation estimated that no fewer than forty-nine family members and co-workers of Afghans affected by the breach had been killed.

A legal restriction regarding the incident was put in force in last year and prevented any information regarding the matter from public disclosure until mid-2025.

Safety Measures

Because she was restricted, Person A and the non-governmental organization she was working with told individuals at risk they were assisting that they had “apprehensions that somebody's phone had been intercepted”.

“We recommended that they relocate when possible and altered their contact details. Those were the crucial data that, should militant forces obtained this information, would lead to identification and capture,” Person A explained.

Disputed Conclusions

The source contested that an official review conducted by a former official had been incorrect to conclude that the obtaining of the records by militant forces was “unlikely to substantially change present danger”.

“The important fact is that these Afghans are not standing up to the Taliban; they live secretly. Everything boils down to former occupations.”

Person A described horrific violence experienced by concerned people, involving electrocution, waterboarding, and physical abuse.

“We have had toddlers who have had their arms broken to pressure relatives to reveal locations,” the whistleblower revealed.