London (TDI): The United Kingdom made a secret plan to resettle thousands of Afghans in Britain, after an official accidentally disclosed the personal data of more than 33000 people, putting their lives at risk under the Taliban government.
It is reported that in February 2022, the personal details of nearly 19000 people who applied to live in the UK after the Taliban took over the government in Afghanistan were leaked.
Due to the breach, a new resettlement scheme for those on the leaked list was set up after nine months, and has seen 4,500 Afghans arrive in the UK so far.
The leak contained the personal details such as names, contact details, and some family information of the people who were potentially at risk of harm from the Taliban government.
On Tuesday, the details emerged after a legal ruling known as a superinjunction was lifted, which revealed the secret plan of resettlement and the judgment of a judge from the High Court in May 2024 that about 20,000 people may have to be offered relocation to Britain, a move that would likely cost “several billion pounds.”
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Britain’s Defense Secretary John Healey told the Parliament that some 4,500 affected people “are in Britain or in transit … at a cost of around 400 million pounds” under the program known as the Afghan Response Route.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Secretary Healey offered a “sincere apology” to those whose details had been included in the leak, which came to light when some appeared on Facebook.
The Ministry of Defense believes 600 Afghan soldiers were included in the leak, and 1,800 of their family members are still in Afghanistan. The scheme is being closed down, but relocation offers already made to those who remain in Afghanistan will be honored.
Healey said the Afghan Response Route has now been closed and apologized for the data breach, which “should never have happened”.
Moreover, the secret scheme, which is officially called the Afghan Relocation Route, has cost £400m so far, and is expected to cost a further £400m to £450m.
An IR student whose interest lies in diplomacy and current affairs and a part time debater
