Taliban Executions Rise as UK Data Breach Exposes Thousands of Afghans to Risk

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Three Afghans connected to British forces have been murdered in just one week, sparking renewed fears after a serious Ministry of Defence (MoD) data leak revealed the identities of thousands who aided the UK during its operations in Afghanistan.

The confidential database, believed to include personal details of over 18,800 applicants to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), was reported missing last year, but its deadly consequences are only now becoming fully clear. Former British military interpreters and allied personnel say the breach is triggering targeted Taliban reprisals, with one ex-soldier warning that “more executions” are inevitable.

On Monday, a man was gunned down in Kabul at close range. His brother, a former member of the elite Afghan special forces unit known as the “Triples”, had fled to Britain for safety. The family now believes the Taliban, unable to reach the soldier himself, took revenge on his relative instead. “They are sending a message,” he said.

Another former interpreter, now living in the UK, said, “If the Taliban have this list, then the killings will increase. It will be Britain’s fault. We risked our lives for the UK, now they are risking our lives again.”

Data Fallout

The breach, considered the most serious of its kind in UK defence history, reportedly includes names, contact details, family information, and sensitive identifiers. The missing records belong to Afghans who served directly alongside UK forces, many as interpreters or intelligence assets. While it remains unclear if the Taliban have direct access to the data, the group claimed earlier this week that they had obtained the information, though this has yet to be confirmed.

Among the 300 confirmed victims in a dossier seen by The Mail are Colonel Shafiq Ahmad Khan, a senior Afghan intelligence officer who was assassinated on his doorstep in 2022, and two other former applicants to the ARAP scheme who were murdered last year.

The fallout from the breach is ongoing, with MPs from across the political spectrum criticising the government for its handling of the situation. It has emerged that nearly 75,000 eligible Afghans were instead sent “advice” on how to stay safe, despite their exposure to clear and present danger.

Former interpreter Mohammed, who once worked with former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said: “This leak changes everything. Before, the Taliban had to guess whether someone had worked with the UK. Now they have names, phone numbers, and addresses. It is a gift that leads to death.”

Defence Secretary John Healey told Parliament this week that a dedicated website had been launched for those affected. The website offers further security guidance, a self-checking tool, and contact details for support services. He stated, “My first concern has been to notify as many people as possible who are affected by the data incident and to provide them with further advice.”

While the MoD continues its efforts to contain the fallout, many feel it is too little, too late. The secretive evacuation operation, known as Operation Rubicif, has so far airlifted over 18,500 people to safety. However, the fate of the tens of thousands left behind now hangs in the balance.

As one former Afghan ally put it plainly, “This is a double betrayal.”