Following a data breach that exposed over 18,000 names of Afghans who collaborated with UK forces, a recent report highlighted significant failures that led to these individuals living in fear for their safety while in hiding for years.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) faced heavy criticism from MPs for wrongly denying entry to at-risk former specialist forces members. Despite government assurances, some eligible individuals still lack a viable path to safety.
The Defence Committee, representing various political parties, condemned the secrecy surrounding the inadvertent 2022 data release that jeopardized these individuals’ safety. Although a new settlement route was quietly established, it revealed major deficiencies.
The committee labeled the breach as “foreseeable” and urged immediate action to assist those left stranded. Chairman Tan Dhesi emphasized the need for protecting eligible Afghans who face challenges reaching a third country for UK entry-clearance checks.
Expressing concern over current exclusion risks, Dhesi criticized the MOD for handling immigration casework schemes instead of focusing solely on defense responsibilities. The committee initiated an inquiry after discovering the leak of personal data from thousands of Afghans seeking relocation to the UK months after the Taliban’s takeover.
The report underscored systemic failures leading to the breach, with details of individuals applying to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme and over 18,500 other applications compromised. Concerns were raised about the treatment of “Triples,” Afghan allies of UK forces facing resettlement application refusals.
Notably, a new policy enforced since April requires eligible Afghans to cover travel costs to a third country for security checks. The government’s handling of the situation post the fall of Kabul in August 2021 received significant backlash.
Acknowledging the gravity of the incident, an MoD spokesperson emphasized efforts to relocate eligible Afghans safely to the UK and outlined reforms to enhance data protection and program governance. The government pledged to conclude the Afghan resettlement program by the end of the current parliament term and welcomed scrutiny to improve accountability.
