LONDON — A British defense official’s mistake in 2022 exposed the personal information of nearly 19,000 Afghans who supported UK forces, prompting a high-level investigation and growing political fallout. The breach, kept secret until this week under a court-imposed super-injunction, has raised urgent questions about accountability, transparency, and the safety of those still trapped in Afghanistan.
Defense Secretary John Healey said he could not confirm if the leak had led to deaths, but acknowledged, “It is highly unlikely that being on the list now increases someone’s risk of being targeted by the Taliban.” He made the statement after the High Court lifted the reporting restrictions on the breach, allowing public scrutiny for the first time.
The data leak occurred in February 2022, when an official at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) mistakenly shared identifying information of thousands of Afghans who had applied for relocation under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP). The leak came to light in August 2023, after the information appeared on Facebook.
In response, the previous Conservative-led government launched the Afghanistan Response Route in April 2024, a secret relocation program designed to bring affected individuals to the UK. So far, 4,500 people have arrived, with the program projected to cost £850 million. Officials estimate that 6,900 individuals will be resettled, though the scheme is now closed.
Despite the resettlement effort, the MoD believes around 600 former Afghan soldiers and 1,800 of their family members remain in Afghanistan.
Healey confirmed that the person responsible for the breach “is no longer doing the same job” but stopped short of confirming whether any disciplinary measures had been taken. “I’m not going to lead some witch hunt after a defense official,” he said. “This is much bigger than the mistake of an individual.”
Political leaders from both parties have responded sharply. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for full accountability, saying, “The Conservatives have serious questions to answer.” He also urged Parliament’s Defence Committee to examine the matter thoroughly.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch issued an apology on behalf of the party. Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith criticized the lack of transparency. “Parliament cannot be ignored for that length of time,” he said. “We owe a duty to the public to examine this.”
The super-injunction blocking press coverage was originally imposed by the government to prevent further harm. Former Defense Secretary Sir Ben Wallace said the measure was intended to protect lives, but High Court Justice Chamberlain ruled on Tuesday that the Taliban likely already had access to the leaked data and that disclosure would not significantly increase risk.
An internal MoD review supported that assessment. Impacted individuals were advised to monitor their communications and avoid suspicious contact. But concerns persist.
The daughter of an Afghan translator affected by the breach told the BBC, “My whole family panicked. No one knows where the data went. It could be in the hands of the Taliban.” She added that her grandmother, who remains in Afghanistan, is “completely vulnerable.”
The 2021 ARAP scheme followed the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan, which saw 36,000 Afghans evacuated by the UK. A 2022 inquiry by the Foreign Affairs Committee described the evacuation effort as a “betrayal.”
The MoD has not ruled out compensation for those affected. As the story continues to unfold, the breach has sparked a wider debate over state secrecy and the balance between national security and public accountability.
About the Author
