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An informant has told the Afghan leak inquiry that the UK failed to secure sensitive technology permitting the Taliban to locate local individuals who collaborated with western forces.

Information Leak Puts Thousands in Danger

The source, called Person A, testified that Afghans affected by the data leak were instructed to move homes and change their contact details to avoid detection from the Taliban.

Lawmakers are looking into the UK government's handling of a serious leak of private information concerning nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to relocate to the UK to flee militant rule.

How the Leak Was Discovered

A data file including private information, such as identities, phone numbers and sometimes family information, was mistakenly released by an official stationed at British military command in February 2022.

The leak came to light in late 2023, when the names of nine people who had applied to move to the UK were posted on online platforms.

Militant Technology

Many believe there's a misunderstanding that the Taliban are without similar capabilities that we have,” the whistleblower testified to the committee.

All equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan; they have it. Should they obtain mobile details, they can trace you down to within metres. This is exactly how intelligence groups did.”

When questioned about whether the Taliban had access to sophisticated technology, Person A confirmed: “They possess all resources.”

Aftermath of the Security Lapse

Early investigations presented to the committee estimated that no fewer than forty-nine kin and colleagues of Afghans affected by the breach had been executed.

A superinjunction regarding the leak was implemented in last year and restricted relevant facts about it from being made public until recently.

Protective Actions

Due to legal constraints, the source and the aid group associated with told affected households they were working with that they had “suspicions that certain devices had been intercepted”.

“Our suggestion was that they relocate if they could and altered their phone numbers. That constituted the two main details that, if authorities acquired this information, would lead to their location being found,” the source testified.

Challenged Assessments

The source argued that government assessment carried out by an ex-government employee had been wrong to conclude that the acquisition of the information by the regime was “minimally impact present danger”.

“The important fact is that these Afghans are not standing up to the authorities; they remain concealed. The primary issue involves their previous employment.”

Person A described horrific abuse suffered by concerned people, comprising electrocution, waterboarding, and physical abuse.

“We have had young kids who have had bones crushed to force relatives to say where someone is,” she testified.