🔗 Share this article Afghan Rulers Used Discarded UK Equipment to Track Down Afghans That Served With Allied Forces, Inquiry Hears A confidential source has disclosed the Afghan leak inquiry that the UK left behind confidential equipment enabling the Taliban to track down local individuals that had served with international military. Information Leak Endangers Thousands at Risk Person A, identified as Person A, testified that Afghans affected by the information breach were advised to relocate and change their contact details to ensure their safety from militant forces. Lawmakers are looking into official response of a serious breach of personal details concerning nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to move to the UK to flee the regime. How the Leak Occurred A spreadsheet including confidential details, including identities, phone numbers and sometimes family information, was mistakenly released by a worker working at British military command in last year. The breach was discovered in late 2023, when details of multiple applicants who had requested to relocate to Britain were posted on social media. Regime's Resources Many believe there's a false assumption that militant forces do not have the same sort of facilities that western nations possess,” she told the committee. Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; it's in their hands. Once they acquire mobile details, they can trace your precise location. That's precisely what the unit achieved.” During testimony about whether the Taliban owned sophisticated technology, Person A confirmed: “They have complete capability.” Aftermath of the Security Lapse Initial findings presented to the investigation indicated that approximately fifty kin and associates of Afghans affected by the leak had been executed. A superinjunction concerning the leak was implemented in late 2023 and restricted relevant facts concerning it from media reporting until mid-2025. Protective Actions Due to legal constraints, the whistleblower and the aid group she was working with told individuals at risk they were assisting that they had “concerns that mobile communications had been breached”. “We advised that they moved when possible and altered their mobile numbers. These represented the two main details that, if authorities had access to these details, would lead to identification and capture,” Person A explained. Contested Findings The whistleblower contested that internal investigation conducted by a former official had been mistaken to state that the obtaining of the records by militant forces was “minimally impact present danger”. “The important fact is that affected people are not confronting the Taliban; they remain concealed. Everything boils down to their previous employment.” She detailed horrific abuse experienced by affected individuals, involving electrocution, simulated drowning, and severe beatings. “There are cases of four-year-old children who have had bones crushed to pressure households to say where someone is,” the whistleblower revealed.