A new study submitted to the UK Parliament's Defence Committee indicates that at least 49 Afghans, including relatives and colleagues of those who supported the British mission, were killed after a major Ministry of Defence data breach. The research surveyed 231 Afghans whose information was exposed, with 200 reporting direct threats against themselves or their families.

According to the findings, nearly 100,000 Afghans were placed at risk of death, while about 24,000 former Afghan soldiers and their families have been secretly relocated to the United Kingdom over the past five years. The data exposure occurred in February 2022 when a Royal Navy officer mistakenly sent a list containing details of about 25,000 Afghan asylum applicants to an individual in Afghanistan, who then circulated it further.

UK officials have acknowledged at least 49 data breach incidents within the department, attributing some to human error and others to cyberattacks. Former British military intelligence officer Philip Ingram described the situation as“shocking” and insisted there must be accountability.

The Ministry of Defence has responded that independent reviews show the likelihood of individuals being targeted solely because their names appeared on leaked lists remains low. It said it continues to support Afghan personnel who worked alongside British forces.

Rights advocates argue that the severity of threats and reported killings demonstrates a failure to protect vulnerable partners who relied on the United Kingdom for safety. They call for stronger oversight, transparent investigations, and faster resettlement to prevent further harm.

MENAFN28102025000228011069ID1110256602