An accidentally leaked list put asylum seekers at risk, prompting a covert operation to protect them from the Taliban.
Soldecanarias.net
The rushed withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan in 2021 was labeled a “disaster” and a “betrayal” by a parliamentary inquiry. However, a more serious episode has recently come to light: thousands of vulnerable Afghans were secretly evacuated to the UK to protect them following an accidental leak of their personal data.
The problem arose when a British soldier mistakenly distributed a list containing the names and details of asylum seekers. This sensitive information could have fallen into the hands of the Taliban, who might have retaliated against those identified.
To prevent this threat, the UK government organized a clandestine operation over the past few years to discreetly move thousands of Afghans from Kabul and other unsafe areas to British territory. This effort aimed to safeguard those who had worked with British forces or were vulnerable after the Taliban took control.
The leak and subsequent evacuation highlight the complexity and risk of withdrawal and protection operations in conflict zones, as well as the human consequences of failures in handling sensitive data.
This episode adds a new dimension to the assessment of the British withdrawal, showing not only logistical challenges but also the difficulties in protecting people who trusted the UK during years of conflict.
