How an email error sparked a secret scramble to bring Afghans to UK

Afghans judged to be most at risk were brought first

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British governments past and present face allegations of avoiding scrutiny and undermining democracy after the revelation that thousands of Afghans have been resettled in the UK under a programme that was hidden from the media, the public and lawmakers in Parliament.

Key information was also kept from the Afghans themselves, who had assisted UK forces and whose personal details had been disclosed in a huge data leak. Many plan to sue the British government for putting them in danger from the Taliban. Some are left in Afghanistan as the current British government says the resettlement programme will end.

The saga was triggered by the chaotic Western exit from Afghanistan in August 2021 as the Taliban, ousted from power 20 years earlier, swept across the country, seized Kabul and reimposed their strict version of Islamic law.

Risk of retribution