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An informant has told a parliamentary probe that the UK abandoned classified devices allowing Afghanistan's rulers to identify local individuals who worked with international military.

Information Leak Puts Numerous at Risk

The whistleblower, called Person A, explained that people concerned by the data leak were advised to change residences and switch their mobile numbers to ensure their safety from the ruling authorities.

MPs are currently examining official handling of a massive disclosure of confidential data concerning approximately 19k individuals who had requested to come to Britain to flee militant rule.

The Information Breach Happened

A data file containing their personal data, including identities, contact details and in some cases family information, was accidentally leaked by an official stationed at UK special forces headquarters in early 2022.

The leak became known in late 2023, when identities of multiple applicants who had applied to settle in the UK were posted on online platforms.

Taliban Capabilities

“There seems to be a misunderstanding that militant forces lack the same sort of facilities that we have,” she told MPs.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they have it. Should they obtain mobile details, they are able to track your precise location. This is exactly how intelligence groups accomplished.”

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

Aftermath of the Data Breach

Preliminary research submitted to the investigation estimated that approximately fifty relatives and associates of Afghans affected by the breach had been killed.

A legal restriction concerning the incident was enacted in August 2023 and prevented all details regarding the matter from public disclosure until July 2025.

Protective Actions

Because she was restricted, the whistleblower and the volunteer organization associated with informed affected households they were assisting that they had “apprehensions that somebody's phone had been compromised”.

“We recommended that they relocate when possible and switched their phone numbers. That constituted the two main details that, if the Taliban obtained these details, would lead to identification and capture,” the source testified.

Disputed Conclusions

The whistleblower disputed that government assessment conducted by an ex-government employee had been mistaken to state that the possession of the information by the Taliban was “unlikely to substantially change present danger”.

“The important fact is that these Afghans are not confronting the authorities; they are in hiding. The primary issue involves past work history.”

She detailed terrible violence experienced by concerned people, including electrocution, simulated drowning, and physical abuse.

“There are cases of four-year-old children who have had limbs fractured to force relatives to disclose hiding places,” Person A stated.