The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC), responsible for overseeing the UK's intelligence operations, has initiated an inquiry into a substantial data breach that has put the identities of thousands of Afghans and British military personnel at risk. This incident has raised serious alarm, prompting an unprecedented super-injunction that delayed the committee's briefing until recently.
Chairman Lord Beamish emphasized that all relevant intelligence documents must be made available immediately for scrutiny. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has expressed strong support for the committee’s investigation, implying a recognition of the urgent need to understand the events surrounding the data leak.
In a statement issued on Monday, Lord Beamish mentioned the inquiry would examine how the intelligence community managed the loss of crucial data, reflecting grave constitutional issues stemming from its mishandling. He previously stated that the ISC has a mandate to review government information classified under the Justice and Security Act of 2013, thus ensuring transparency in the committee's oversight efforts.
According to reports, the data leak originated from UK Special Forces headquarters in February 2022, when an employee mistakenly shared a spreadsheet containing over 30,000 resettlement applications with an external individual. This mistake was not discovered until August 2023, when an Afghan individual on social media spotlighted nine specific persons from the leaked data, warning of a potential threat to release additional information, leading to what government sources term "essentially blackmail."
As a consequence of the breach, the MoD acquired a gagging order in September to safeguard nearly 19,000 Afghans who had collaborated with British forces from possible Taliban retribution. The High Court subsequently instituted a super-injunction, suppressing any reporting on the order until it was lifted last week.
In light of the breach's implications, the UK government quietly established the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) to assist approximately 7,000 at-risk individuals in relocating to the UK, projecting a final cost of around £850 million. Furthermore, the MoD has stated it will vigorously defend any potential compensation claims but does not intend to proactively provide compensation for affected individuals.
As the inquiry develops, concerns grow over the repercussions of the leak on MI6 and the UK’s Special Air Service (SAS) reputation, further complicating the legacy of the war in Afghanistan.
