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A confidential source has revealed a parliamentary probe that British authorities failed to secure classified equipment enabling the Taliban to identify local individuals who worked with international military.

Data Breach Puts Thousands in Danger

The source, called Person A, stated that people concerned by the security lapse were advised to change residences and change their mobile numbers to protect themselves from militant forces.

Lawmakers are currently examining the UK government's handling of a catastrophic breach of confidential data affecting approximately 19k Afghans who had requested to move to Britain to avoid militant rule.

Data Disclosure Occurred

A data file with confidential details, such as names, addresses and in some cases relative details, was accidentally leaked by a staff member employed at special operations center in February 2022.

The breach became known months later, when details of several individuals who had sought to settle in the UK surfaced on social media.

Taliban Capabilities

It appears there is a false assumption that militant forces are without the same sort of facilities that we have,” Person A informed MPs.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they possess it. If they have your phone number, they can locate your exact position. That is what the unit accomplished.”

Under inquiry about if militant forces had access to sophisticated technology, Person A confirmed: “They possess all resources.”

Aftermath of the Security Lapse

Early investigations presented to the investigation estimated that no fewer than forty-nine kin and associates of Afghans affected by the breach had been killed.

A superinjunction concerning the incident was implemented in late 2023 and restricted all details regarding the matter from media reporting until July 2025.

Security Recommendations

Because she was restricted, Person A and the non-governmental organization she was working with informed affected households they were supporting that they had “suspicions that somebody's phone had been compromised”.

“Our suggestion was that they moved if they could and switched their contact details. That constituted the crucial data that, should militant forces acquired such data, would result in them being traced,” she said.

Disputed Conclusions

The whistleblower contested that internal investigation carried out by a former official had been incorrect to determine that the possession of the dataset by militant forces was “unlikely to substantially change an individual's existing exposure”.

“The important fact is that affected people are not confronting the authorities; they live secretly. The primary issue involves their previous employment.”

The source explained terrible violence suffered by at-risk Afghans, involving electric shock torture, waterboarding, and physical abuse.

“We have had four-year-old children who have had their arms broken to pressure relatives to disclose hiding places,” she testified.