LONDON (Realist English). The UK government ran a secret multibillion-pound relocation programme for Afghans after a catastrophic data breach exposed around 25,000 individuals to potential Taliban reprisals. The programme, concealed under a “super-injunction” since 2023, was confirmed for the first time on Tuesday after the High Court partially lifted the unprecedented media ban.
The breach, caused by a British soldier who inadvertently included hidden data in emails sent in February 2022, went unnoticed until August 2023 when screenshots were posted in a Facebook group. The spreadsheet revealed names, contact information, and sensitive details of Afghans linked to UK operations — many of whom had been denied relocation under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP).
A government memo from February 2025, now made public, estimated the cost of relocating 25,000 people at up to £7bn, noting the policy required “unprecedented legal action, in the form of the ‘super-injunction’” to contain public scrutiny. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) later revised the cost to £5.5–6bn and reduced the number of eligible evacuees.
The leak is considered one of the most serious UK intelligence failures in decades. British officials initially assessed that Afghans named in the file faced severe threats of “murder, torture and intimidation” by the Taliban. The government has so far relocated 18,500 individuals, though only 5,500 were confirmed as direct beneficiaries of the secret “Afghan Response Route” programme.
Defence Secretary John Healey formally announced the scheme’s closure to new applicants in Parliament on Tuesday, offering “a sincere apology” on behalf of the UK government. The original ARAP and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme were also abruptly shut down this month.
Despite legal efforts to suppress details, court records reveal the leaked database was sold at least once, possibly used by some Afghans to pressure the UK into relocation. One soldier reportedly believed he was sending data on just 150 people; the document contained hidden entries on tens of thousands more.
The scandal has erupted amid fiscal pressures and growing political backlash over immigration. Reform UK, an anti-immigration party, is leading establishment rivals in recent polls. Civil servants warned the court of potential “public disorder” if the programme were revealed.
More than 665 Afghans are now suing the UK Ministry of Defence, seeking damages of at least £50,000 each. Thousands more may join as awareness of the breach spreads.
The fallout exposes critical vulnerabilities in UK military data handling, triggers a rare clash between national security and press freedom, and highlights the spiralling human and financial cost of post-war commitments. The long-concealed scandal raises fresh questions about transparency, accountability, and the treatment of wartime allies.
