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A whistleblower has revealed the Afghan leak inquiry that the UK abandoned classified equipment permitting the militant group to locate local individuals who worked with western forces.

Data Breach Endangers Thousands in Danger

The source, known as Person A, testified that individuals impacted by the information breach were advised to change residences and switch their phone numbers to ensure their safety from militant forces.

MPs are investigating the Conservative government's response of a catastrophic breach of personal details affecting almost nineteen thousand individuals who had asked to come to the UK to flee the Taliban.

How the Leak Was Discovered

A data file containing confidential details, such as names, contact details and in some cases relative details, was inadvertently disclosed by a worker working at special operations center in February 2022.

The breach came to light only in August 2023, when details of nine people who had sought to move to the UK surfaced on social media.

Taliban Capabilities

It appears there is this misconception that the Taliban lack the same sort of facilities that western nations possess,” she told the committee.

“We left it all behind in Afghanistan; they have it. If they have a contact number, they are able to track you down to within metres. That's precisely what the unit achieved.”

Under inquiry about regarding if authorities possessed advanced decryption, the source declared: “They have complete capability.”

Impact of the Security Lapse

Early investigations provided to the investigation estimated that approximately fifty kin and associates of people concerned by the breach had been murdered.

A legal restriction regarding the leak was implemented in August 2023 and prevented any information concerning it from being made public until July 2025.

Security Recommendations

Due to legal constraints, the whistleblower and the volunteer organization associated with informed individuals at risk they were working with that they had “apprehensions that mobile communications had been intercepted”.

“We advised that they moved when possible and changed their phone numbers. Those were the crucial data that, if authorities obtained this information, would lead to their location being found,” the source testified.

Challenged Assessments

The whistleblower argued that government assessment carried out by an ex-government employee had been mistaken to determine that the acquisition of the information by militant forces was “unlikely to substantially change current risk levels”.

“The thing to remember is that affected people are not confronting the Taliban; they are in hiding. Everything boils down to their previous employment.”

The source explained disturbing abuse experienced by concerned people, comprising electrocution, simulated drowning, and physical abuse.

“There are cases of young kids who have had their arms broken to pressure households to say where someone is,” Person A stated.