Taliban Fighters Secretly Airlifted to UK Following Afghanistan Data Breach, Reports The Mai
Taliban fighters, along with former sex offenders and corrupt officials, have reportedly been brought to the UK under a secret airlift operation following a catastrophic data breach in Afghanistan, according to The Mail.
The breach, discovered in August 2023, saw a British military official mistakenly share a database containing the personal details of over 100,000 Afghans who had applied for sanctuary in the UK. This breach revealed a “kill list” to the Taliban, placing thousands of lives at immediate risk, including many who had assisted British forces in Afghanistan.
As part of a covert airlift codenamed Operation Rubific, the UK government has already flown approximately 18,500 of these individuals to safety in Britain, with plans to resettle a total of 23,900. Many are currently housed in Ministry of Defence accommodations or temporary hotels, awaiting permanent housing.
However, The Mail reports that among those evacuated are former Taliban fighters, sex offenders, and individuals who had been imprisoned under the US-led coalition in Afghanistan. The operation, which is being carried out with taxpayer funding, has raised concerns about the vetting process for those allowed to enter the UK.
While many Afghans who had worked alongside British forces have been given sanctuary, tens of thousands of others who remain in Afghanistan face the grim reality of living under the Taliban’s rule, vulnerable to retribution and violence.
The UK government has yet to officially comment on the inclusion of former Taliban fighters or individuals with criminal backgrounds in the resettlement program. However, the breach continues to spark outrage over security concerns and the treatment of those who were once in line for sanctuary.
