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A whistleblower has told an official investigation that British authorities abandoned classified equipment enabling the Taliban to track down Afghans who worked with allied troops.

Data Breach Puts Numerous at Risk

The source, identified as Person A, testified that Afghans affected by the information breach were told to relocate and change their phone numbers to protect themselves from the ruling authorities.

MPs are investigating official management of a massive breach of confidential data involving nearly 19,000 individuals who had asked to come to the United Kingdom to flee the regime.

How the Leak Occurred

A data file with confidential details, such as identities, addresses and in some cases relative details, was inadvertently disclosed by a staff member working at British military command in February 2022.

The breach came to light months later, when the names of several individuals who had applied to move to Britain surfaced on Facebook.

Militant Technology

It appears there is a false assumption that militant forces are without comparable resources that we have,” Person A informed the committee.

“We left it all behind in Afghanistan; they possess it. Should they obtain mobile details, they are able to track you down to within metres. This is exactly how intelligence groups accomplished.”

Under inquiry about regarding if authorities owned advanced decryption, Person A declared: “They've got everything.”

Consequences of the Information Leak

Early investigations provided to the inquiry suggested that no fewer than forty-nine relatives and colleagues of people concerned by the leak had been killed.

A gag order concerning the incident was enacted in last year and blocked any information about it from media reporting until mid-2025.

Protective Actions

Because she was restricted, the source and the aid group she was working with told individuals at risk they were supporting that they had “suspicions that certain devices had been breached”.

“We recommended that they moved if they could and altered their phone numbers. Those were the crucial data that, should militant forces had access to such data, would cause their location being found,” the source testified.

Contested Findings

Person A argued that an official review conducted by an ex-government employee had been wrong to determine that the acquisition of the information by the regime was “minimally impact present danger”.

“The important fact is that these Afghans are not confronting the Taliban; they live secretly. Everything boils down to their previous employment.”

She detailed horrific violence endured by at-risk Afghans, comprising electrocution, simulated drowning, and physical abuse.

“Instances include toddlers who have had limbs fractured to pressure the family to disclose hiding places,” Person A stated.