KABUL – The Taliban government has officially denied claims that it is targeting or monitoring Afghan nationals whose personal information was leaked from a UK Ministry of Defence database.
Taliban Reject Claims of Arrests or Surveillance
Deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said in a recorded statement that “nobody has been arrested for their past actions, nobody has been killed and nobody is being monitored for that.” He emphasised that the apparent rumours seem aimed at instilling fear and confusion among vulnerable individuals and their families.
Government Points to General Amnesty
Fitrat highlighted that the Taliban’s Supreme Leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, had already declared a general amnesty for those who worked with NATO forces or the previous government. He asserted that there is no need for the authorities to rely on leaked documents, stressing that “nobody is investigated or monitored” regardless of past affiliations.
Concern Grows After UK Data Breach
Over the past week, the UK lifted a superinjunction that had shielded details of a 2022 data leak exposing at least 33,000 Afghans who had applied for relocation to Britain. Under Operation Rubific, thousands have since been evacuated to the UK via a secret resettlement programme designed to protect those at risk.
Many affected individuals, including interpreters and security personnel, have expressed deep anxiety, fearing they may now be on a Taliban-targeted list. However, Taliban officials continue to reject these allegations, stating that the leaked data is neither required nor being used for surveillance or punitive action.
International Response and Relocation Efforts
Former UK officials have publicly acknowledged the gravity of the data breach and defended the relocation scheme as a preventive measure. A court ruling in 2024 raised additional scrutiny over the government’s prolonged secrecy on the matter. While independent reviews suggest the immediate risk to individuals may have been overstated, many remain apprehensive about their safety in Afghanistan.
As evacuees settle in new countries under temporary protections, the Taliban’s firm denial offers little comfort for those still in Afghanistan. Questions persist over whether the leaked information could fall into hostile hands—and where accountability lies if it does.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.
