The UK has quietly relocated 4,500 Afghans after a major data breach exposed nearly 19,000 people at risk under Taliban rule. The leak, caused by a UK Ministry of Defence official mistakenly emailing a sensitive spreadsheet in 2022, revealed names and contact details, according to BBC.
The government learned of the breach in 2023 when some details surfaced on Facebook but kept it hidden under a court gag order—lifted only this week by a High Court judge.
In response, a secret scheme called the Afghan Relocation Route was set up, costing over £400m so far. While the scheme is now closing, relocation offers already made will still be honoured.
Defence Secretary John Healey apologised in Parliament, calling it a serious error. The people affected were only informed this week. Some 600 Afghan soldiers and 1,800 family members are still waiting in Afghanistan, BBC reported.
