The UK government has quietly launched a multi-million-pound emergency scheme to relocate thousands of Afghans to Britain following a serious data breach that exposed the identities of those who supported British forces during the war in Afghanistan.
It can now be revealed that nearly 19,000 individuals who had applied for relocation under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) were affected by the leak, which occurred in February 2022 when a Ministry of Defence (MoD) official mistakenly released a sensitive dataset. The breach went unnoticed for more than a year.
The leak only came to light in August 2023 when parts of the dataset were posted anonymously in a Facebook group. It contained the names and contact information of Afghans, many of whom had worked as interpreters or in other critical support roles for UK forces, potentially placing them and their families at risk from the Taliban.
In response, the UK government set up the Afghanistan Response Route in April 2024 — a previously undisclosed programme designed to urgently relocate those affected by the breach. The initiative is reported to have cost £400 million to date, with the total projected to reach around £850 million. Additional millions are expected in legal fees and compensation payouts for those placed in danger by the disclosure.
The programme is one of the largest covert relocations ever conducted by the UK and highlights ongoing efforts to fulfil commitments made to Afghan nationals following the Western military withdrawal in 2021. While the Arap scheme had already been operational to support eligible applicants, the new route was created specifically to address the fallout from the leak.
Government officials have declined to comment on the specifics of the Afghanistan Response Route due to national security concerns. However, it is understood that thousands of Afghans have already been brought to the UK under the new measures, with others still undergoing security vetting and logistical arrangements.
The disclosure of the secret programme has sparked questions over accountability and data protection within the Ministry of Defence. Critics say the year-long delay in discovering the breach may have endangered lives, and have called for a formal inquiry into the handling of sensitive information.
MPs and advocacy groups are now demanding greater transparency and assurances that those impacted will be safeguarded and compensated fairly. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence declined to confirm specific details but said the UK remains “deeply committed to supporting all those who risked their lives in service alongside British forces.”
