The support given to British troops by Afghan interpreters and other local was vital to the effort against the Taliban — The support given to British troops by interpreters and other Afghans was vital in supporting the effort against the Taliban, although the group would return to power in 2021

Afghanistan

Watchdog to investigate intelligence community's role over Afghan data breach

Parliament's intelligence watchdog is to hold an inquiry into the Afghan data leak that led to the imposition of a superinjunction and a secret relocation scheme costing hundreds of millions of pounds.

Lord Beamish, the chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC), said the cross-party group would launch a probe after considering defence assessment documents related to the case.

He had previously voiced his concern over constitutional issues raised by the handling of the breach that saw the details of 18,714 applicants for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme released in 2022.

The leak prompted an unprecedented gagging order amid fears the Taliban could target would-be refugees for reprisals.

This meant the ISC, which routinely reviews sensitive material, was not briefed on the matter.

It also saw the establishment of a secret scheme, the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR), to bring some of those affected to the UK at a projected final cost of about £850m.

Lord Beamish said the committee had now agreed that once it had considered the requested material it would conduct an inquiry into the intelligence community's role and activity in connection with the data loss.

The Ministry of Defence said it had been instructed by Defence Secretary John Healey to give its full support to the committee.

The ISC, which is made up of MPs and peers, has asked for the release of the defence assessments that formed the basis of the superinjunction, as well as other material relating to the Arap scheme.

It argued that under the Justice and Security Act 2013, classification of material is not grounds on which information can be withheld from the committee, given its purpose is to scrutinise the work of the UK intelligence community.

Along with the Afghan nationals, the breach saw details of more than 100 British nationals compromised, including Special Forces and MI6 personnel.