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A confidential source has told the Afghan leak inquiry that the UK left behind confidential devices permitting Afghanistan's rulers to identify Afghans that had served with international military.

Data Breach Puts Numerous in Danger

Person A, known as Person A, explained that individuals impacted by the security lapse were advised to move homes and change their phone numbers to avoid detection from the ruling authorities.

Members of Parliament are looking into official management of a serious breach of confidential data affecting almost nineteen thousand individuals who had asked to move to Britain to avoid the regime.

How the Leak Was Discovered

A data file including confidential details, such as identities, phone numbers and in some cases household data, was accidentally leaked by an official stationed at special operations center in February 2022.

The incident became known only in August 2023, when identities of nine people who had requested to relocate to Britain surfaced on social media.

Militant Technology

“There seems to be this misconception that the Taliban lack similar capabilities that allied forces use,” the whistleblower testified to MPs.

Technology was deserted in Afghanistan; they have it. Should they obtain a contact number, they can trace your precise location. This is exactly how specialized teams achieved.”

Under inquiry about regarding if authorities owned advanced decryption, the source confirmed: “They've got everything.”

Impact of the Security Lapse

Initial findings submitted to the investigation estimated that approximately fifty relatives and colleagues of people concerned by the incident had been murdered.

A gag order regarding the breach was implemented in late 2023 and prevented all details about it from public disclosure until July 2025.

Protective Actions

Because she was restricted, Person A and the aid group she collaborated with informed individuals at risk they were assisting that they had “suspicions that mobile communications had been breached”.

“Our suggestion was that they change residence if they could and switched their contact details. Those were the crucial data that, should militant forces had access to such data, would lead to identification and capture,” she said.

Challenged Assessments

The whistleblower argued that an official review carried out by an ex-government employee had been incorrect to determine that the obtaining of the records by the regime was “not significantly alter current risk levels”.

“The thing to remember is that affected people are not standing up to militant forces; they are in hiding. Everything boils down to former occupations.”

She detailed disturbing treatment experienced by at-risk Afghans, including electric shock torture, simulated drowning, and physical abuse.

“Instances include toddlers who have had their arms broken to pressure the family to reveal locations,” the whistleblower revealed.