UK secretly relocated thousands of Afghans after data breach
The revelation came after a High Court lifted a gag order that had suppressed reporting on the sensitive operation.
The incident traces back to February 2022 when a UK official accidentally leaked a spreadsheet containing personal details of nearly 19,000 Afghans seeking relocation. This occurred just six months after the Taliban regained control of Kabul. Healey described the leak as a grave departmental failure with potentially life-threatening consequences.
In response, the former Conservative government initiated a covert programme called the Afghan Response Route to evacuate those deemed at highest risk of Taliban retaliation. To date, approximately 900 Afghan nationals and 3,600 family members have been relocated to the UK or are in transit under this scheme, which cost taxpayers around £400 million.
These evacuees form part of the 36,000 Afghans granted UK entry through various resettlement programmes since the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Healey, who previously served as Labour's defence spokesman, learned of the operation in December 2023 but was legally barred from discussing it due to a sweeping court injunction imposed by the outgoing government.
The minister expressed discomfort about being unable to inform Parliament earlier, stating that ministers had withheld information to prevent the Taliban from obtaining the leaked dataset. Following Labour's election victory in July 2024, Healey launched a review of the programme which found minimal evidence of Taliban retaliation efforts.
With the Afghan Response Route now terminated, Healey issued a public apology for the data breach, calling it an unacceptable security failure. The disclosure marks a significant development in the UK's handling of Afghan allies following the chaotic Western withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
4 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Chong to press federal ministers over Bintulu Port delay, airport upgrade, tax refunds in Parliament
Chong (standing) speaks at the previous sitting of the Dewan Rakyat. KUCHING (July 16): Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen will be seeking clarification from the Transport Minister on the delay in the Sarawak government's takeover of the Bintulu Port Authority in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat session. The delay and steps being taken to expedite the process are among the 10 questions Chong submitted for the question and answer session in Parliament. Among the other questions is for the Transport Minister whether the government plans to upgrade and expand the Kuching International Airport under the 13th Malaysia Plan. 'If so, what budget has been allocated and when the project will begin. 'Another question is to request for the Finance Minister to give a detailed explanation on the total amount owed by the government to taxpayers in overdue tax refunds, the reasons for the delays and the timeframe for repayment,' he said in a statement. Chong, who is Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman, will also seek a reply from the Prime Minister on whether Malaysia would consider adopting Singapore's e-invoicing model. Under that system, e-invoicing is mandatory only for business-to-government (B2G) transactions, while business-to-business (B2B) transactions are encouraged but not compulsory – a policy that could reduce the cost burden on small businesses in Malaysia. Medical insurance premium hikes were another concern to be raised by Chong, who will query the Finance Minister on what actions the government has taken to address the sharp increase in medical insurance premiums, and the effectiveness of those actions. He will also ask the Home Minister to explain the Royal Malaysia Police's actions in curbing the rapid spread of illegal online gambling outlets operating behind the façade of convenience stores and coffee shops, and whether these measures have proven effective. Bintulu Port Chong Chieng Jen parliament
Daily Express
7 hours ago
- Daily Express
Freedom of Information Bill expected to be tabled by year-end: PM
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Pic by Bernama PUTRAJAYA: The government is expected to table the Freedom of Information Bill by year-end to strengthen transparency and give the public real access to government decisions, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ( pic ) said today. He said the bill is a vital step to building public trust and encouraging informed participation in the country's democracy. Advertisement "We will bring this law to Parliament by the end of the year so the public can hold us to account. "These reforms reflect our holistic and determined approach to building strong, fair and transparent institutions that serve all Malaysians with integrity," he said in his speech at the International Conference on Governance and Integrity 2025 here. Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki. Anwar said the government is also in the process of amending the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 (Act 711) to provide broader and more meaningful safeguards. "This includes removing previous exclusions that limited protection and establishing an independent Whistleblower Protection Committee to ensure effective implementation," he said. Meanwhile, speaking to the media after the conference, Azalina said both bills had been drafted. "We hope by next session (October), this session unable to make it. Everything is on track,' she said. In July last year, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran announced that the Freedom of Information Bill would grant all Malaysians access to information on any ministry or government agency. However, he noted that information on personal data, matters that threaten national security, defence and diplomatic relations would be excluded. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
7 hours ago
- Borneo Post
YouTuber from China fined RM800 for trespassing Parliament grounds
He committed the offence at 5.30pm on July 9 and was charged under Section 7 of the same Act, which carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM1,000, or both. – Malay Mail photo KUALA LUMPUR (July 16): A part-time YouTuber from China was fined RM800, in default one month's jail, by the Magistrate's Court here today for trespassing into the Malaysian Parliament compound. Magistrate M.S. Arunjothy meted out the sentence on 25-year-old Li Zhechen after he pleaded guilty to unlawfully entering the Parliament grounds, which are designated as a restricted area under Section 5(1) of the Protected Areas and Protected Places Act 1959. He committed the offence at 5.30pm on July 9 and was charged under Section 7 of the same Act, which carries a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM1,000, or both. According to the facts of the case, Li entered the compound to take photos and videos. On-duty police officers then detained him. Deputy public prosecutor Adiba Iman Md Hassan earlier urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence to serve as a deterrent to the accused and the public. Li's lawyer, Lee Ewe Kiang, pleaded for a lenient sentence, saying his client was remorseful and had no intention of trespassing into a restricted area. 'On the day of the incident, my client, who was visiting Malaysia as a tourist, had been walking around Perdana Botanical Gardens before accidentally entering the nearby Parliament grounds. 'He apologises to all parties involved,' the lawyer said. – Bernama Chinese national Court fined Parliament grounds trespass Youtuber
