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A confidential source has told an official investigation that British authorities failed to secure sensitive devices enabling the Taliban to locate Afghans that had served with western forces.

Information Leak Endangers Numerous in Danger

Person A, known as Person A, stated that Afghans affected by the security lapse were instructed to change residences and change their mobile numbers to ensure their safety from the ruling authorities.

Members of Parliament are looking into official handling of a catastrophic leak of private information involving approximately 19k Afghans who had applied to come to the UK to escape militant rule.

Data Disclosure Happened

A spreadsheet containing their personal data, comprising identities, addresses and sometimes family information, was inadvertently disclosed by a staff member working at UK special forces headquarters in last year.

The leak became known in late 2023, when the names of nine people who had requested to relocate to the UK appeared on Facebook.

Regime's Resources

“There seems to be this misconception that the Taliban lack similar capabilities that we have,” Person A informed MPs.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they have it. Once they acquire a contact number, they are able to track your exact position. That is what the unit achieved.”

Under inquiry about if militant forces had access to advanced decryption, the whistleblower stated: “They possess all resources.”

Impact of the Security Lapse

Early investigations presented to the inquiry estimated that at least 49 relatives and associates of individuals impacted by the breach had been murdered.

A gag order concerning the incident was put in force in last year and prevented any information concerning it from public disclosure until mid-2025.

Safety Measures

Given injunction limitations, the whistleblower and the volunteer organization she collaborated with told individuals at risk they were supporting that they had “apprehensions that certain devices had been intercepted”.

“We advised that they change residence where feasible and switched their contact details. These represented the two main details that, if authorities obtained this information, would result in their location being found,” she said.

Contested Findings

The whistleblower contested that an official review performed by a retired civil servant had been incorrect to determine that the obtaining of the information by the Taliban was “unlikely to substantially change current risk levels”.

“The thing to remember is that these Afghans are not confronting the authorities; they are in hiding. The primary issue involves former occupations.”

She detailed horrific treatment endured by at-risk Afghans, including electrocution, waterboarding, and severe beatings.

“We have had young kids who have had their arms broken to try to get households to disclose hiding places,” Person A stated.