Taliban Deny UK Data Leak Fallout, Reject Allegations

The Taliban has rejected claims of arresting or monitoring Afghans after a UK data leak exposed the identities of those who had worked with British forces. The denial came amid growing concerns that a security lapse in a secret UK resettlement programme could endanger lives.

Taliban Denial Amid Rising Fears

On Thursday, Afghan government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat clarified that no one had been arrested, monitored, or killed due to the leaked data. “Reports of investigation and monitoring of a few people whose data has been leaked are false,” he told reporters. The leak involved Afghans eligible for relocation to the UK under a classified programme launched after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

UK Confirms Breach, Lifts Gag Order

Earlier this week, the UK government acknowledged that a significant data breach had occurred in 2022. Thousands of Afghans and their families who worked with British forces were quietly relocated to Britain. The breach, and the existence of the programme, only came to light after the UK High Court lifted a strict gag order preventing public reporting.

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UK Defence Minister John Healey said the breach had not been revealed earlier because of concerns that the Taliban might use the data to retaliate against former collaborators. “The leak posed real threats to lives,” he said, adding that around 900 Afghans and 3,600 of their relatives have been resettled or are currently in transit to the UK under the Afghan Response Route.

Taliban Asserts Independence from Leaked Files

Fitrat insisted the Taliban had no need to use leaked British documents. “All their information and documents are present here in the defence ministry, the interior ministry and the intelligence agency,” he said. He claimed such rumours were aimed at spreading fear among Afghans and undermining trust in the government’s general amnesty.

Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada had previously announced an amnesty for all Afghans who worked with NATO or the ousted Afghan administration, urging citizens to return without fear of reprisal.

UN Reports Contradict Taliban’s Claims

Despite these assurances, a 2023 report from the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented over 800 incidents of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, and disappearances between August 2021 and June 2023. The majority of victims were former officials or security personnel linked to the previous government or foreign forces.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied these accusations, stating that all former employees had been pardoned under the amnesty. However, rights groups and foreign governments remain cautious, citing ongoing reports of human rights abuses.

Background on the Evacuation and Resettlement

Following the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Kabul in August 2021, tens of thousands of Afghans rushed to flee the country. A chaotic evacuation ensued, with several Western nations airlifting thousands of their allies. The UK has since accepted around 36,000 Afghans through multiple resettlement schemes. Meanwhile, European and US asylum programmes have slowed significantly over the past year.

The Afghan Response Route alone has cost the UK an estimated £400 million ($535 million) so far. It remains one of several efforts by the UK and its allies to honour commitments made to Afghans who assisted their missions during the 20-year conflict.

Tensions Persist Amid Uncertain Future

While the Taliban government insists on a policy of non-retaliation, persistent allegations and the broader human rights climate raise doubts. Women and girls remain banned from most education and employment, reinforcing global concerns about Taliban governance and the safety of vulnerable Afghans.

The UK data leak has reignited fears about the consequences of mishandled security and the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect those at risk.