🔗 Share this article Taliban Employed Left-Behind British Gear to Locate Afghans Who Worked With Allied Forces, Inquiry Is Told A confidential source has disclosed an official investigation that the UK failed to secure sensitive equipment allowing the militant group to locate Afghans who worked with western forces. Information Leak Puts Numerous at Risk Person A, identified as Person A, explained that individuals impacted by the data leak were advised to change residences and switch their phone numbers to ensure their safety from the ruling authorities. Lawmakers are currently examining the Conservative government's response of a massive leak of confidential data concerning approximately 19k Afghans who had applied to move to Britain to avoid the Taliban. Data Disclosure Was Discovered A spreadsheet with their personal data, such as names, contact details and occasionally household data, was accidentally leaked by a staff member employed at special operations center in February 2022. The leak became known months later, when the names of nine people who had requested to move to the UK were posted on Facebook. Taliban Capabilities It appears there is a false assumption that the Taliban do not have the same sort of facilities that allied forces use,” she told lawmakers. All equipment was abandoned in Afghanistan; it's in their hands. If they have your phone number, they are able to track you down to within metres. That is what specialized teams did.” During testimony about whether the Taliban possessed advanced decryption, Person A confirmed: “They possess all resources.” Aftermath of the Information Leak Early investigations provided to the investigation estimated that approximately fifty kin and associates of individuals impacted by the incident had been executed. A superinjunction concerning the breach was enacted in late 2023 and restricted relevant facts regarding the matter from public disclosure until recently. Safety Measures Because she was restricted, the source and the non-governmental organization associated with told affected households they were assisting that they had “suspicions that mobile communications had been breached”. “We advised that they change residence if they could and altered their phone numbers. These represented the two main details that, if the Taliban acquired this information, would result in their location being found,” Person A explained. Contested Findings Person A contested that an official review performed by a former official had been incorrect to conclude that the possession of the information by the Taliban was “not significantly alter an individual's existing exposure”. “The thing to remember is that affected people are in hiding from the authorities; they are in hiding. The primary issue involves past work history.” The source explained disturbing abuse experienced by concerned people, involving electric shock torture, waterboarding, and physical abuse. “There are cases of toddlers who have had bones crushed to force households to reveal locations,” the whistleblower revealed.