Over 100 UK spies and special forces had their identities exposed in a major Afghan data breach, putting thousands of lives at risk and triggering a secret relocation plan.
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| UK special forces and intelligence identities leaked in 2022 Afghan data breach, sparking fears of Taliban reprisals and leading to covert resettlement efforts. Image: CH |
LONDON, UK — July 18, 2025:
More than 100 British intelligence operatives—including members of MI6 and the SAS—have been identified in a catastrophic data breach that also compromised the personal details of nearly 19,000 Afghans who worked with the UK during its 20-year military presence in Afghanistan. The breach, which occurred in February 2022 but remained undiscovered for 18 months, was officially confirmed this week after a High Court partially lifted a super-injunction.
Originally concealed to prevent endangering lives, the breach revealed sensitive information through a government resettlement database, exposing those who had applied to relocate to the UK under various Afghan assistance programmes. Thousands of Afghans, many already under Taliban threat, were left in grave danger. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) admitted the error on Tuesday, calling it a “serious departmental failure.”
The breach was discovered only in August 2023 when an Afghan citizen in possession of the leaked data posted excerpts on Facebook, threatening to reveal more. The man was subsequently fast-tracked through UK immigration—a move that government sources described as “effectively blackmail.” While the MoD did not confirm these claims, it maintained that all Afghan arrivals undergo “robust security vetting.”
The leak stemmed from an error inside UK Special Forces headquarters in London, where an official accidentally emailed a file containing more than 30,000 resettlement applications to an unauthorised individual. The email was supposed to include just 150 records. The affected documents contained classified details, including those of British special forces and intelligence agents embedded in Afghan operations.
To address the crisis, the government covertly launched the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR), a special £850 million resettlement initiative. So far, 4,500 Afghans and their family members have been relocated under this programme, with an additional 2,400 expected. However, most applicants were never informed of the breach that put them in danger.
The High Court’s decision to partially lift reporting restrictions now allows public discussion of the full extent of the breach. Previously, a super-injunction not only prevented coverage of the event but also banned disclosure that such an injunction existed.
Defence Secretary John Healey acknowledged the incident as part of a wider pattern of data failures within the Afghan relocation process. The shadow defence secretary, James Cartlidge, apologised on behalf of the previous Conservative government, which was in office when the breach was detected.
The Taliban government claimed it had not detained or investigated Afghans linked to the leak. However, relatives of some named individuals report increased threats and searches, fuelling concern for their safety.
An MoD spokesperson reiterated the UK’s policy of not commenting on special forces activity but stated: “We take the security of our personnel very seriously, particularly those in sensitive positions, and have appropriate measures in place.”
The breach has triggered a renewed debate over the UK government’s handling of sensitive information and the ethical responsibilities toward Afghan allies—many of whom remain stranded or in hiding.