Afghan whose details were in UK data breach at risk from Taliban if deported, son tells BBC

Afghan whose details were in UK data breach at risk from Taliban if deported, son tells BBC

A Pakistani man, whose information was mistakenly disclosed by the UK in a significant data breach, has been apprehended in Pakistan for imminent deportation along with several family members, as reported by his son to the BBC. According to documents seen by the BBC, the man was affiliated with Afghan special forces units that collaborated with British forces in Afghanistan, known as the Triples. Pakistan has been on a mission to expel what they classify as “illegal foreign nationals” to their respective countries, prompting the deportation threat.

The man’s son expressed urgency in their case, fearing for their safety if sent back to Afghanistan due to his father’s association with the Triples. The Taliban government advocates that all Afghans can reside in the country without apprehension. Nevertheless, a UN report titled “No safe haven” issued recently raised doubts about the general amnesty pledged by the Taliban. The family had applied to the UK’s Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021 and were awaiting a decision when Pakistani authorities arrived to detain them.

Rayan, the man’s son, recounted a harrowing ordeal of evading capture by hiding in a hotel bathroom in Islamabad with his wife and baby son while witnessing other family members being taken into custody. The family, whose biometrics were recorded in October 2024, has been stranded in Pakistan with no explanation for the prolonged wait. Despite their tumultuous situation, the Ministry of Defence declined to comment on individual cases, emphasizing their commitment to relocating eligible individuals who pass the necessary checks.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Talal Chaudry, expressed discontent over the delay in resettling Afghans to other countries, urging the UK to expedite the process. Since launching the “Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan” in September 2023, Pakistan has facilitated the return of 1,159,812 individuals to Afghanistan, according to the United Nations migration agency. The UNHCR has called upon Pakistan to ensure that the repatriation of Afghans is voluntary, safe, and dignified, particularly given the substantial Afghan population residing in the country, a significant portion of whom arrived following the Taliban’s ascension in 2021

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