🔗 Share this article Taliban Used Left-Behind UK Technology to Locate Local Nationals That Served With Western Forces, Inquiry Is Told A whistleblower has revealed the Afghan leak inquiry that the UK left behind sensitive devices permitting Afghanistan's rulers to identify Afghans who worked with allied troops. Information Leak Puts Numerous at Risk The whistleblower, called Person A, testified that people concerned by the information breach were instructed to move homes and alter their mobile numbers to protect themselves from the Taliban. Members of Parliament are investigating the Conservative government's handling of a catastrophic breach of confidential data involving approximately 19k Afghans who had requested to relocate to Britain to escape militant rule. Data Disclosure Happened A spreadsheet with private information, such as identities, contact details and sometimes family information, was accidentally leaked by an official employed at special operations center in last year. The leak became known in late 2023, when the names of several individuals who had applied to relocate to the UK appeared on online platforms. Taliban Capabilities “There seems to be this misconception that the Taliban lack comparable resources that allied forces use,” Person A informed the committee. Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; it's in their hands. Once they acquire a contact number, they can locate your precise location. This is exactly how specialized teams achieved.” Under inquiry about if militant forces possessed necessary encryption, the whistleblower stated: “They've got everything.” Impact of the Data Breach Initial findings presented to the inquiry suggested that at least 49 relatives and colleagues of Afghans affected by the incident had been killed. A gag order about the leak was implemented in late 2023 and prevented all details about it from public disclosure until July 2025. Safety Measures Due to legal constraints, the source and the non-governmental organization she collaborated with informed individuals at risk they were assisting that they had “concerns that mobile communications had been breached”. “We advised that they relocate where feasible and switched their mobile numbers. These represented the two main details that, if the Taliban acquired these details, would cause them being traced,” she said. Challenged Assessments Person A contested that internal investigation performed by a retired civil servant had been mistaken to conclude that the acquisition of the information by the regime was “not significantly alter present danger”. “The thing to remember is that these Afghans are not standing up to the Taliban; they remain concealed. The primary issue involves their previous employment.” She detailed terrible violence experienced by at-risk Afghans, comprising electric shock torture, interrogation techniques, and physical abuse. “We have had toddlers who have had limbs fractured to force households to reveal locations,” Person A stated.