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An informant has told a parliamentary probe that British authorities abandoned classified technology allowing the Taliban to identify Afghans that had served with western forces.

Information Leak Puts Numerous at Risk

The source, known as Person A, explained that Afghans affected by the information breach were told to move homes and change their phone numbers to ensure their safety from the ruling authorities.

Members of Parliament are currently examining official handling of a massive disclosure of confidential data involving nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to come to Britain to avoid the Taliban.

The Information Breach Occurred

A data file including private information, comprising names, phone numbers and occasionally family information, was mistakenly released by a worker employed at special operations center in early 2022.

The breach became known in late 2023, when details of several individuals who had applied to relocate to Britain appeared on online platforms.

Taliban Capabilities

“There seems to be a false assumption that militant forces are without similar capabilities that allied forces use,” Person A informed the committee.

All equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan; they have it. If they have a contact number, they can trace you down to within metres. That's precisely what specialized teams did.”

Under inquiry about if militant forces possessed necessary encryption, the source stated: “They have complete capability.”

Consequences of the Information Leak

Preliminary research provided to the committee suggested that no fewer than forty-nine relatives and co-workers of individuals impacted by the leak had been killed.

A gag order concerning the leak was implemented in late 2023 and blocked all details about it from public disclosure until mid-2025.

Protective Actions

Given injunction limitations, the source and the non-governmental organization she collaborated with advised Afghan families they were supporting that they had “apprehensions that certain devices had been breached”.

“We advised that they moved when possible and changed their phone numbers. Those were the primary information that, if the Taliban had access to such data, would cause their location being found,” Person A explained.

Contested Findings

The source disputed that an official review conducted by an ex-government employee had been incorrect to conclude that the possession of the records by militant forces was “not significantly alter current risk levels”.

“The important fact is that these individuals are in hiding from the authorities; they live secretly. All concerns relate to their previous employment.”

She detailed disturbing treatment experienced by at-risk Afghans, involving electrocution, waterboarding, and severe beatings.

“Instances include young kids who have had limbs fractured to force relatives to disclose hiding places,” Person A stated.