🔗 Share this article Taliban Utilized Abandoned UK Gear to Track Down Afghans Who Worked Alongside Allied Troops, Investigation Is Told An informant has told the Afghan leak inquiry that British authorities failed to secure classified technology permitting the militant group to identify Afghans who collaborated with international military. Data Breach Endangers Thousands at Risk The whistleblower, identified as Person A, testified that individuals impacted by the data leak were told to move homes and alter their phone numbers to protect themselves from the Taliban. Lawmakers are investigating the Conservative government's handling of a massive leak of confidential data concerning nearly 19,000 individuals who had requested to come to Britain to flee militant rule. Data Disclosure Happened An electronic document with their personal data, such as names, contact details and occasionally family information, was inadvertently disclosed by a staff member working at British military command in last year. The leak came to light only in August 2023, when identities of several individuals who had applied to relocate to the UK appeared on Facebook. Militant Technology “There seems to be this misconception that Afghan rulers lack the same sort of facilities that we have,” the whistleblower testified to the committee. “We left it all behind in Afghanistan; they have it. If they have mobile details, they are able to track your exact position. This is exactly how intelligence groups accomplished.” Under inquiry about whether the Taliban possessed necessary encryption, the whistleblower stated: “They have complete capability.” Consequences of the Security Lapse Early investigations provided to the inquiry estimated that approximately fifty kin and associates of people concerned by the breach had been killed. A legal restriction about the leak was implemented in last year and restricted relevant facts regarding the matter from media reporting until July 2025. Security Recommendations Due to legal constraints, the whistleblower and the non-governmental organization she collaborated with informed individuals at risk they were working with that they had “apprehensions that mobile communications had been compromised”. “Our suggestion was that they relocate if they could and altered their contact details. That constituted the crucial data that, if authorities had access to this information, would lead to identification and capture,” the source testified. Contested Findings Person A disputed that government assessment carried out by a retired civil servant had been incorrect to state that the possession of the information by militant forces was “minimally impact present danger”. “The important fact is that these Afghans are not standing up to the authorities; they live secretly. The primary issue involves past work history.” The source explained terrible treatment endured by affected individuals, involving electrocution, interrogation techniques, and physical abuse. “Instances include four-year-old children who have had limbs fractured to pressure relatives to disclose hiding places,” Person A stated.