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UK set up secret Afghan immigration scheme after data leak and gagged media

Release Date
2025-07-15
Media
Financial Times
Summary
The UK government secretly launched a multibillion-pound scheme to relocate around 25,000 Afghans at high risk of Taliban reprisals after a major data leak in February 2022 exposed their personal details. The leak, caused by a British soldier’s email mistake, was only discovered in August 2023 when parts of the database appeared on social media. The breach potentially put about 100,000 people, including family members and UK officials, at risk.

In response, the government initiated the “Afghan Response Route” to bring affected Afghans to the UK, with estimated costs up to £7 billion (later revised to £5.5–6 billion). By July 2024, around 18,500 Afghans had been relocated, including 5,500 directly due to the data breach. The government kept the scheme secret under a rare “super-injunction,” which was partially lifted by the High Court in July 2024.

The Ministry of Defence apologized for the incident, acknowledged the breach exposed many to threats of murder, torture, and harassment by the Taliban, and confirmed the scheme has now closed to new applicants. Over 665 Afghans have launched a collective lawsuit against the Ministry seeking compensation for the breach.
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