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An informant has disclosed the Afghan leak inquiry that the UK failed to secure classified devices permitting the militant group to identify local individuals that had served with western forces.

Information Leak Endangers Numerous in Danger

The whistleblower, known as Person A, stated that Afghans affected by the information breach were told to relocate and switch their mobile numbers to avoid detection from militant forces.

Members of Parliament are investigating the UK government's management of a massive leak of private information concerning nearly 19,000 Afghans who had applied to relocate to the United Kingdom to flee militant rule.

The Information Breach Happened

A data file including their personal data, including names, addresses and in some cases relative details, was mistakenly released by a staff member employed at UK special forces headquarters in last year.

The breach came to light only in August 2023, when identities of nine people who had sought to settle in Britain appeared on social media.

Militant Technology

It appears there is this misconception that the Taliban are without similar capabilities that western nations possess,” she told the committee.

All equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan; they have it. Once they acquire your phone number, they can locate your precise location. That's precisely what intelligence groups did.”

When questioned about regarding if authorities possessed advanced decryption, the whistleblower stated: “They've got everything.”

Aftermath of the Security Lapse

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

A legal restriction regarding the incident was implemented in August 2023 and restricted relevant facts concerning it from public disclosure until July 2025.

Security Recommendations

Due to legal constraints, the source and the non-governmental organization she collaborated with advised affected households they were supporting that they had “suspicions that somebody's phone had been compromised”.

“We recommended that they relocate where feasible and changed their contact details. That constituted the two main details that, if authorities obtained this information, would cause them being traced,” the source testified.

Contested Findings

Person A argued that government assessment carried out by an ex-government employee had been incorrect to state that the obtaining of the records by militant forces was “not significantly alter current risk levels”.

“The crucial point is that these individuals are in hiding from militant forces; they live secretly. All concerns relate to their previous employment.”

Person A described disturbing violence endured by at-risk Afghans, comprising electric shock torture, interrogation techniques, and physical abuse.

“Instances include young kids who have had limbs fractured to force relatives to disclose hiding places,” she testified.