Why UK secretly brought in thousands of Afghans, including 'sex offenders'
The individuals whose personal details were leaked were only informed last Tuesday.Though the data was leaked in 2022, the previous Conservative government learned about it in August 2023 when some of the details appeared on social media.Ministers and officials at the Ministry of Defence scrambled into action after discovering that the leaked data had surfaced in a Facebook group. They sought an injunction from the High Court – reportedly the first of its kind requested by a British government – to block further media disclosure, according to The Guardian.A new resettlement scheme, the Afghan Response Route (ARR), was created in haste soon after.The court in the initial trial granted the application "contra mundum" – against the world – and ruled that its existence remain secret, resulting in a superinjunction which remained in place until lifted on Tuesday, according to The Guardian.UK DEFENCE MINISTER APOLOGISES FOR THE DATA LEAKBritish Defence Minister John Healey has issued an apology for the data leak.The leaked data included details about Members of Parliament and senior military officers who supported applications to help Afghan soldiers who worked with the British military and their families relocate to the UK, news agency Reuters reported."This serious data incident should never have happened," Healey told lawmakers in the House of Commons, Reuters reported."It may have occurred three years ago under the previous government, but to all whose data was compromised I offer a sincere apology," the news agency quoted him as saying.The government on Tuesday said it believed 600 Afghan soldiers included in the leak, plus 1,800 of their family members, are still in Afghanistan, according to the BBC report.The scheme is being closed down, but relocation offers already made to those who remain in Afghanistan will be honoured, the BBC reported, citing the government. The scheme has cost GBP 400 million (approximately Rs 43,000 crore) so far and is expected to cost a further GBP 400 million to 450 million.SEX OFFENDERS AMONG THOSE WHO RELOCATED TO UKadvertisementReform UK leader Nigel Farage has launched a scathing attack on the government over the handling of the Afghan scheme.Farage said convicted sex offenders were among the people brought to the UK as part of the government's response to the data leak, without providing evidence for his claim, the UK's Financial Times reported.He said no more Afghans involved in the data breach would be offered relocation, citing a government review that found "little evidence of intent from the Taliban to conduct a campaign of retribution against former officials", the Financial Times reported.UK GOVT FACING BREACH CLAIMS FROM THE AFFECTED INDIVIDUALSThe government is now facing lawsuits from those affected by the breach.Sean Humber, a lawyer at Leigh Day, a leading UK law firm, who has acted for Afghan citizens affected by previous data breaches, said those affected were "likely to have strong claims for substantial compensation" for the anxiety and distress caused by the leak, according to a report in Reuters.advertisementBritish troops were initially sent to Afghanistan in 2001 in response to the September 11 attacks on the US, playing a key role in combat missions until 2014.In early 2022, a spreadsheet containing details of Afghans who had worked for the British government prior to the Taliban takeover in 2021 and had applied for relocation to Britain was e-mailed to someone outside of government systems by mistake, Reuters reported.- Ends
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an hour ago
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The US crude import deal is expected to help diversify supply sources and reduce dependence on Gulf producers, who currently meet nearly all of Pakistan's oil needs.'Gross refining margin is on par with Gulf grades, and no blending or refinery tweaks are required,' said the refiner is operating at a run rate of 30-35% due to subdued local demand. 'We expect run rates to rise as domestic demand strengthens and local production is prioritised over imported fuels,' Qureshi where are Pakistan's 'Massive oil reserves'?President Trump's remark about Pakistan's 'massive oil reserves' is difficult to substantiate based on known geological data. As of 2016, Pakistan had proven oil reserves of 353.5 million barrels, according to the US Energy Information Administration—ranking 52nd globally and accounting for just 0.021% of total world reserves. At current consumption levels of roughly 556,000 barrels per day, these reserves would last under two years without imports or new daily oil production stands at around 88,000 barrels, far below national demand. The country imports approximately 85% of its crude comment may have been influenced by early-stage geological surveys in Pakistan's Offshore Indus Basin. Seismic studies conducted over the last three years have identified promising hydrocarbon formations under the Arabian Sea. Some speculative estimates suggest the offshore area could house reserves rivalling those of Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, and these claims remain unproven. No commercial drilling has taken place, and the formations have yet to be classified as reserves in the technical sense—meaning they are not yet confirmed to be commercially viable, recoverable, or under development early 2024, Pakistan's Ministry of Energy announced preliminary results from its multi-year offshore seismic survey, suggesting the presence of significant hydrocarbon potential. But technical experts, including former OGRA member Muhammad Arif and officials from state-run firms like OGDCL, cautioned that the findings were based only on seismic geological data, they said, pointed to promising traps and thick source rocks along tectonically active zones such as the Murray Ridge. But until exploratory drilling confirms the presence, quality, and extractability of oil or gas, these cannot be classified as offshore assets would require major investment. Experts estimate $5 billion would be needed over four to five years to confirm and begin development of the sites. 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News18
an hour ago
- News18
Indian Oil PSUs Stop Buying Spot Russian Crude Amid Tariff Heat?
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