• The UK government has secretly resettled around 4,500 Afghans due to a major data breach revealing their identities.
• The breach exposed personal details of nearly 19,000 Afghans and over 100 British officials, including MI6 spies and special forces.
• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) was aware of the leak only after part of the data was posted on social media in August 2023.
• A controversial superinjunction prevented the media from reporting on the breach until recently, raising significant public scrutiny.
• Defence Secretary John Healey has apologized for the incident, stating it was a serious departmental error with severe consequences.

The UK government has initiated a covert scheme to relocate thousands of Afghans following a serious data breach that exposed personal information of nearly 19,000 individuals who supported British forces in Afghanistan. In addition to Afghans, the breach has compromised the identities of more than 100 British officials, including MI6 spies and members of the special forces. This startling information was made public after a superinjunction, which had prohibited media coverage for two years, was lifted on July 16, 2025, according to Indiatimes, Dawn, BBC, and LA Times.

The breach originated when a British defence official inadvertently leaked sensitive personal data in February 2022, which included individuals’ names and details from applications to relocate to the UK amidst fears of Taliban reprisals. The incident led to the establishment of the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR), a secretive relocation plan aimed at securing safe passage for individuals at risk, as articulated by Defence Secretary John Healey in the House of Commons. Up until June 2025, approximately 4,500 affected individuals and their relatives had been relocated, resulting in an aggregate expenditure of around £400 million, according to reports from Dawn, and BBC.

The gravity of the data leak did not only raise concerns for the Afghans involved but also critically impacted British national security. Court documents disclosed that identities of key British officials, including spies and MPs, were exposed, prompting urgent calls for accountability from former Conservative ministers. Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed that there are serious questions to answer regarding the decision-making process before and after the data breach, highlighting the lapse in governmental oversight that could endanger both Afghan allies and British officials alike, as stated by BBC and Indiatimes.

The data breach was first discovered when parts of the leaked information were posted on social media in August 2023. It prompted fears that the Taliban could exploit the leaked identities, leading to significant security threats against the affected individuals. Despite assurances from the Taliban that individuals would not be targeted, many remain skeptical about their safety, as ongoing reports indicate a continuation of violence against those associated with Western forces during the Afghanistan conflict. This concern is echoed in multiple reports, including BBC, LA Times, and Al Jazeera.