Following a data breach that exposed the details of Afghan helpers, an Afghan family faces risk of deportation back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Their son fears for their safety and pleads for urgent relocation assistance.**
"Afghan Family Faces Imminent Deportation Amid Data Breach Concerns"**
"Afghan Family Faces Imminent Deportation Amid Data Breach Concerns"**
An Afghan man's detention in Pakistan highlights the dire consequences of a UK data breach for refugees facing Taliban reprisals.**
An Afghan man, whose sensitive information was inadvertently revealed through a data breach by the UK government, is currently detained in Pakistan with his family, facing imminent deportation despite their circumstances. The man’s son, speaking to the BBC, expressed grave fears for their safety, fearing that their return to Afghanistan would lead to persecution due to his father's association with British forces.
Recent reports illustrate a growing urgency as Pakistan escalates efforts to deport what it deems "illegal foreign nationals." The family’s plight is deeply concerning, particularly because the father served with the Afghan special forces—known as the "Triples"—while collaborating with British military efforts in Afghanistan. The Taliban regime claims that all Afghans can safely reside in the country, yet a recent UN report contradicts these assurances, pointing to the lack of true protection under the current government.
The family had initially sought refuge under the UK's Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) following the Taliban's takeover in August 2021. Despite their application being endorsed by the UK Ministry of Defence, they remain stranded in Pakistan without clarity on their relocation status. The son, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, recounted a harrowing scene of fear and helplessness, as he evaded capture during a raid while his relatives were detained. He implored authorities to consider the plight of his young family members, including an infant.
While the UK Ministry of Defence has stated that it is committed to supporting eligible individuals, it has refrained from commenting on specific cases. The leak of personal information affecting nearly 19,000 Afghan applicants in February 2022 has heightened fears among those affected, exposing them to threats from the Taliban.
Labour MP Calvin Bailey, who has firsthand experience with the Afghan Triples, emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling for more robust support for those who served alongside British forces. He expressed hope for proactive engagement from the UK government in facilitating the family's safe relocation, acknowledging the complexities of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Pakistan, which hosts about three million Afghan refugees, has expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the resettlement process. The government has maintained that the current policy aims at repatriating illegal foreign nationals, leading to concerns regarding the treatment of vulnerable Afghan families caught in the midst of these deportations. The UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has recently advocated for ensuring that any return to Afghanistan is voluntary and safe, particularly for those needing ongoing protection.
As the crisis unfolds, the risks for Afghan families remaining in Pakistan continue to escalate, raising critical questions about international obligations and the safety of those who once aided foreign military efforts.
