**UK's Secret Afghan Relocation Program Emerges After Data Leak**

New details reveal the government's response to a significant data leak involving those at risk after the Taliban's resurgence.

The UK government covertly established a relocation program for Afghan refugees after a severe data breach exposed the sensitive information of nearly 19,000 applicants. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed that a dataset containing the personal details of those seeking asylum was mistakenly released in February 2022 by a defence official. This breach came to light in August 2023 when parts of the dataset were anonymously shared on Facebook.

In reaction to the leak, which could potentially endanger the lives of many Afghans, the government rolled out a secret resettlement program. As a result, about 4,500 Afghans have already moved to the UK, with another 600 anticipated to join them alongside their immediate families. The secretive operation, termed the Afghan Response Route, has incurred costs of £400 million to date and is projected to cost an additional £400 to £450 million.

The existence of this program was initially obscured by a legal injunction but can now be reported following a recent ruling by the High Court. The breach was attributed to an unnamed individual from the MoD, who sent a detailed spreadsheet containing names of individuals at risk during the Taliban's rule via unauthorized channels. Defence Secretary John Healey acknowledged the leak as a "serious departmental error," clarifying that even he was barred from discussing it under the injunction, which he described as "unprecedented."

The leaked data, which included personal information and family details, pertained to those who applied under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap)—a program established to facilitate the safe evacuation of Afghans fearing Taliban retribution following the US troop withdrawal in August 2021. Despite the intention behind Arap, it has faced severe criticism. A 2022 inquiry described its handling as a "disaster" and a “betrayal”.

During the court case, Mr. Justice Chamberlain pointed out that the previous injunction had raised significant free speech issues, creating what he termed a "scrutiny vacuum" in the democratic process. The MoD has yet to disclose how many individuals have been detained or harmed as a consequence of the data leak. The situation continues to develop, with further updates expected to follow.