Afghan Family Faces Deportation Threat Due to UK Data Breach

Sun Oct 19 2025 19:12:45 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An Afghan man in Pakistan, whose identity was exposed in a UK data breach, fears for his family's safety ahead of potential deportation to Afghanistan.

The son of an Afghan man, whose details were leaked in a major UK data breach, has reported that his family faces imminent deportation from Pakistan. His father, a member of special forces allied with British troops, is at high risk if returned to Afghanistan. As the family awaits relocation under the UK's Afghan Assistance Policy, fears for their safety grow amid Pakistan's ongoing deportation campaign.

An Afghan man in Pakistan, identified only as Rayan for safety reasons, is facing an imminent deportation with his family following a significant data breach by the UK, which exposed the personal information of Afghan refugees. The documents leaked revealed that his father is a former member of the Afghan Triples, elite special forces who worked alongside British military personnel, heightening their risk of harm if returned to Afghanistan.

The family's precarious situation comes as Pakistan intensifies efforts to deport what it considers "illegal foreign nationals." Rayan expressed grave concerns, stating that if they are sent back to Afghanistan, their lives could be in jeopardy due to his father's association with Western forces—a link that the Taliban cites as a valid reason for potential retribution.

Rayan described the chaos when police detained several of his family members but spared him, his wife, and their infant son. They were hiding in a hotel when law enforcement apprehended other relatives. "They were kept with 90 others, and my brother feared we would be deported next," Rayan recounted. The family had been waiting for a decision on their application to the UK's Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), designed to protect those who supported British military operations, when the latest developments took place.

Expressing his fear, Rayan remarked, "We've been stranded in limbo since October 2024," stating that his family had submitted biometrics but had received no updates. An official from the UK Ministry of Defence avoided commenting on the specifics of individual cases but assured that they remain committed to safeguarding those entitled to protection.

Compounding their anxiety is the data breach that revealed the identities of nearly 19,000 vulnerable Afghans. Rayan's family is terrified that these revelations make them prime targets for deportation or harm. Labour MP Calvin Bailey, who previously worked with the Triples, highlighted the urgency of the situation, asserting that the UK has a duty to support individuals like Rayan's father.

According to the UN migration agency, more than 1.1 million individuals have returned to Afghanistan since Pakistan launched its "Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan." The agency has urged Pakistan to ensure the safe and voluntary return of Afghans, particularly those with ongoing protection needs. With approximately three million Afghans residing in Pakistan and many undocumented, the situation remains precarious for families like Rayan's as they grapple with the fear of being forcibly returned to a homeland rife with peril.