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A confidential source has revealed an official investigation that the UK failed to secure confidential devices permitting the militant group to locate Afghans that had served with international military.

Data Breach Endangers Numerous at Risk

The source, identified as Person A, testified that Afghans affected by the data leak were instructed to change residences and change their contact details to ensure their safety from the ruling authorities.

Members of Parliament are looking into official handling of a massive leak of confidential data involving almost nineteen thousand individuals who had requested to move to Britain to escape militant rule.

How the Leak Was Discovered

A data file including private information, such as names, phone numbers and in some cases family information, was mistakenly released by an official employed at UK special forces headquarters in last year.

The incident came to light months later, when the names of several individuals who had sought to relocate to the UK surfaced on Facebook.

Taliban Capabilities

“There seems to be a misunderstanding that Afghan rulers are without comparable resources that western nations possess,” the whistleblower testified to the committee.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they have it. Should they obtain your phone number, they can locate you down to within metres. This is exactly how the unit accomplished.”

When questioned about whether the Taliban had access to necessary encryption, the source confirmed: “They've got everything.”

Aftermath of the Security Lapse

Early investigations submitted to the inquiry suggested that no fewer than forty-nine kin and co-workers of individuals impacted by the incident had been executed.

A gag order about the incident was put in force in August 2023 and prevented any information regarding the matter from public disclosure until July 2025.

Protective Actions

Given injunction limitations, Person A and the volunteer organization she collaborated with advised Afghan families they were supporting that they had “concerns that somebody's phone had been intercepted”.

“Our suggestion was that they relocate when possible and switched their contact details. That constituted the two main details that, if the Taliban obtained such data, would lead to identification and capture,” the source testified.

Disputed Conclusions

The source contested that internal investigation carried out by a former official had been incorrect to determine that the acquisition of the records by the Taliban was “unlikely to substantially change current risk levels”.

“The thing to remember is that these individuals are in hiding from militant forces; they are in hiding. All concerns relate to their previous employment.”

The source explained horrific abuse endured by concerned people, involving electric shock torture, simulated drowning, and physical abuse.

“We have had toddlers who have had bones crushed to pressure relatives to disclose hiding places,” she testified.