UK Relocates 7,000 Afghans After Secret MoD Data Breach Uncovered

By M10News Staff | Source: Sky News | July 15, 2025

Nearly 7,000 Afghan nationals are being urgently relocated to the United Kingdom following the exposure of a previously hidden Ministry of Defence (MoD) data breach that jeopardised the safety of thousands.

The incident, which had been kept secret under a superinjunction since 2023, compromised the personal details of nearly 20,000 individuals who applied for British support after working with UK forces in Afghanistan.

The breach, described as one of the most serious data leaks in MoD history, occurred in February 2022 but remained undisclosed to the public until now. The super-injunction was lifted earlier this month following a High Court ruling, allowing the media to report the full scope of the government’s failure to protect sensitive information.

According to internal documents obtained by Sky News, the UK government has launched a large-scale relocation operation involving 6,900 Afghans, comprising 1,500 directly named in the data breach and their immediate family members.

These individuals are in addition to the thousands already relocated under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP).

The MoD has confirmed that the immediate costs of the relocation related to the breach will be at least £850 million.

However, the total financial impact could exceed £6 billion, taking into account existing support programs, legal challenges, and operational costs. A separate February 2025 estimate, now considered outdated, placed the total at £7 billion.

The compromised information, reportedly leaked via an improperly handled email, included names, contact details, and locations of Afghans who worked alongside UK forces. Many of these individuals are now considered targets by the Taliban, which returned to power in August 2021 following the collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government.

A source close to the matter said at least a few individuals named in the breach are believed to have been killed, although direct links to the data leak have not been confirmed.

It remains unclear whether the Taliban has obtained the leaked list, but the loss of control over the information has raised serious security concerns.

Defence Secretary John Healey addressed Parliament on Tuesday, offering a “sincere apology” and expressing concern about the secrecy surrounding the breach. “No government wishes to withhold information from the British public, from parliamentarians, or the press in this manner,” Healey told MPs.

The secret relocation effort was initiated by the previous Conservative government in 2023 to support individuals affected by the breach who were not eligible under ARAP. However, it remained hidden under court orders until the High Court lifted the super-injunction following an internal review.

The review, led by former civil servant Paul Rimmer, concluded the risk posed to individuals was likely limited due to the amount of data already accessible to the Taliban. However, legal representatives and human rights advocates dispute this assessment.

Adnan Malik, head of data protection at Baring’s Law—representing around 1,000 of the affected individuals—condemned the government’s handling of the case. “This is an incredibly serious data breach, which the Ministry of Defence has repeatedly tried to hide from the British public,” he said. “Those affected had put their trust in the UK, and many now live in fear.”

The breach occurred under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but was only detected in August 2023. The superinjunction followed shortly thereafter, restricting the media from even acknowledging the existence of the legal proceedings.

More than 5,000 additional Afghans who have already received relocation letters are expected to arrive in the UK in the coming weeks.

In total, around 23,900 individuals affected by the data breach—including dependents—are expected to be moved to Britain.

Despite the relocation effort, tens of thousands remain behind in Afghanistan, facing potential retaliation. Many of them fall outside the eligibility criteria for UK resettlement schemes and may receive no formal support.

The government now faces growing pressure to launch a full public inquiry into the breach, its cover-up and the safeguarding of vulnerable Afghan nationals.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office declined to comment on the matter when contacted.