A cross-party Defence Committee report has condemned the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for failures that left Afghans who worked with UK forces in danger after the Taliban takeover. The report found that thousands of people were unable to escape following the 2021 takeover, and that a data breach in 2022 exposed over 18,000 names, putting them at risk.
Data Breach and Systemic Failures
The committee branded the breach "foreseeable" and said immediate steps must be taken to support those left stranded. Chairman Tan Dhesi said: "This inquiry began with a data breach, but became about the real lives affected by delay, secrecy and flawed decision-making. The government must now explain how it will protect eligible Afghans who cannot safely, lawfully or affordably reach a third country for UK entry-clearance checks."
The spreadsheet contained details of about 150 applicants to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme and data relating to more than 18,500 other applications. Some details were later shared on a Facebook page, although the then-government used an unprecedented superinjunction to prevent details becoming public for nearly two years.
Impact on Eligible Afghans
The report raised concerns about the treatment of so-called Triples – Afghans who had worked with UK forces but had their resettlement applications refused. It said the government has a special responsibility to these people, who may have spent years in hiding or been forced to flee to a third country. Some were left destitute and unable to get out of Afghanistan.
Since April, a new policy requires eligible Afghans to fund their travel to a third country to undergo security checks. The committee warned that current policies risk excluding people who should have been brought to the UK years ago after the government promised to help.
Political and Official Response
The report noted that former Tory Defence Secretary Grant Shapps did not inform his Labour counterpart, John Healey, about the breach. An MoD spokesperson said: "This incident should never have happened and we acknowledge the significant impact it has had on many people. Thousands of eligible Afghans have already been safely relocated to the UK, where they can rebuild their lives and we are committed to ensuring that we conclude the Afghan resettlement programme by the end of this Parliament. We are learning the lessons from this incident and important reforms are already in place, including improved data protection standards, strengthened case-working processes and better programme governance."
