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An informant has told an official investigation that the UK left behind classified devices permitting the Taliban to identify Afghans that had served with allied troops.

Data Breach Endangers Numerous in Danger

The whistleblower, known as Person A, explained that Afghans affected by the data leak were told to move homes and switch their phone numbers to ensure their safety from the ruling authorities.

MPs are looking into the Conservative government's handling of a massive disclosure of confidential data concerning nearly 19,000 individuals who had applied to come to Britain to avoid militant rule.

The Information Breach Happened

A spreadsheet containing confidential details, including names, contact details and in some cases relative details, was mistakenly released by a worker stationed at British military command in February 2022.

The breach became known in late 2023, when details of nine people who had sought to relocate to the UK were posted on Facebook.

Taliban Capabilities

“There seems to be a misunderstanding that Afghan rulers are without comparable resources that we have,” Person A informed MPs.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they possess it. Once they acquire mobile details, they can trace you down to within metres. This is exactly how specialized teams accomplished.”

When questioned about whether the Taliban had access to advanced decryption, Person A stated: “They have complete capability.”

Consequences of the Security Lapse

Early investigations submitted to the inquiry estimated that no fewer than forty-nine relatives and colleagues of people concerned by the incident had been executed.

A superinjunction regarding the incident was put in force in late 2023 and blocked relevant facts about it from media reporting until July 2025.

Safety Measures

Due to legal constraints, the whistleblower and the aid group associated with told affected households they were supporting that they had “apprehensions that somebody's phone had been breached”.

“Our suggestion was that they change residence when possible and changed their contact details. Those were the crucial data that, should militant forces had access to this information, would result in them being traced,” the source testified.

Disputed Conclusions

The source contested that government assessment performed by a retired civil servant had been wrong to conclude that the acquisition of the records by militant forces was “minimally impact current risk levels”.

“The important fact is that these Afghans are not confronting militant forces; they are in hiding. Everything boils down to former occupations.”

The source explained horrific abuse suffered by affected individuals, involving electric shock torture, simulated drowning, and violent assaults.

“Instances include young kids who have had limbs fractured to pressure households to say where someone is,” she testified.