A representative from the Afghan Taliban claimed that despite a data breach at the UK Ministry of Defense, which exposed information on thousands of Afghans, there is no need for Afghans to fear persecution.
“The Intelligence Reporting Agency does not need to keep tabs on those who have been pardoned. All relevant documents are accessible to the Ministry of Defense and the Interior and Intelligence Reporting Agency, so there’s no need to depend on UK political records,” said Taliban spokesman Hamidula Fitrat.
Fitrat referred to the “pardon” supposedly offered by the Taliban to Afghans who previously worked with an internationally recognized elected government. The chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2021 is a significant backdrop here.
Now operating as “Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate,” the Taliban frequently extends “pardons” to the many Afghans who fled amid the panic following the extremist takeover. Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhand recently reiterated this in June, suggesting that those who left should return.
“Afghans who have left need to come back home. No one will harm them. They can return to their ancestral lands and live peacefully,” Akhand stated.
While some Afghans ended up in less secure conditions, primarily in the less appealing regions of Iran and Pakistan, many have faced violent deportations. It’s a tough situation—caught in camps in Pakistan and Iran or back home in Afghanistan, struggling to survive.
Those who found refuge in the West seem less inclined to trust the Taliban’s assurances, especially after the recent data leak in the UK brought these issues back into the spotlight.
The data leak revealed information about around 19,000 Afghans who worked with British forces after 2001, particularly highlighting special forces members who are at high risk due to the Taliban’s promises of “pardon.” Many of these individuals have faced severe repercussions.
The UK’s operations involved extracting about 4,500 Afghans and were kept under wraps until recently. With details now emerging, a high court judge lifted a gag order concerning the case, revealing the operation cost over $5 billion.
The data breach has become a significant political issue for the UK government, fueling public anger regarding the mishandling of sensitive information and the betrayal of Afghans who supported British forces.
A judge involved in the case expressed disbelief at projections estimating the total cost to mitigate the data leak could reach as high as £6 billion.
“You can’t just lose that kind of money without a trace,” the judge remarked.
