Afghan data breach: MOD's no comment approach won't wash, warns Tan Dhesi

Sensitivity surrounding Special Forces operations should not be used to avoid scrutiny in relation to the 2022 data breach that saw personal details of relocation applicants leaked as they attempted to flee Taliban rule, a Defence Select Committee report has said. 

The report also asked for more detail and transparency of UK Special Forces (UKSF) involvement in the database scandal, hoping for greater scrutiny of administrative decision-making, data handling and accountability for resettlement casework in which Special Forces have been involved. 

Despite widespread reports, the MOD has yet to publicly reveal Special Forces involvement in the leak.

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Helping those who have helped us 

Speaking to BFBS Forces News, chair of the committee Tan Dhesi said: "Regardless of who was involved, there cannot be a shielding in terms of accountability, especially when it deals with merely administrative procedures.

"This no comment approach from the Ministry of Defence that just won't wash, it's about helping those who have helped us."

The report 'Shifting heaven and earth? The Afghan data breach and settlement schemes' addresses the fallout after withdrawal of military presence from Afghanistan and the rapid Taliban takeover which later followed.

In August 2021, then Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised that the UK would "shift heaven and earth" to help eligible Afghans left behind after the Taliban's return to power – including many who had worked with the British and allied forces and were left in fear of Taliban reprisal attacks.

'Foreseeable' failure 

The 2022 database breach leaked personal details of those hoping to move to the UK, which led to hundreds of millions of pounds being spent secretly resettling those in danger. 

These events were only made public in 2025, after a superinjunction was lifted. 

The MOD's role in the handling of the database in the first place was criticised by the chair.

"The Ministry of Defence should stick to defence," Mr Dhesi continued.

"It should not be running complex immigration, casework processes and procedures that should be within the domain of the Home Office," he said, adding that this is why the breach was described as "foreseeable" as well as a "systemic" failure.

"This isn't just about one individual's mistake; this is about something that should have been a foreseeable systemic breach, and that's what must be stopped in future," he said.

Aside from the human cost, Mr Dhesi said: "For nearly two years, there was a complete lack of public scrutiny, no knowledge within Parliament… [and] no reporting within the media.

"It affected the lives of thousands of individuals, especially those Afghans who had bravely supported our courageous servicemen and women during operations in Afghanistan.

"Also, what it meant is that a scheme involving hundreds of millions of public taxpayer money, that was also shielded from any accountability.

"Ultimately, I think this is this whole episode has damaged public trust as well."

The chair reiterated the report recommendations for a clear policy to help Afghans who can't self-move to a third country for relocation checks, now that in-country evacuations have ended.

The MOD has said it is learning lessons from the incident, adding that it should never have happened.