Latest news with #Fahim
Metro
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Afghan veteran warns data breach poses shadow threat ‘for years to come'
A former British Paratrooper who spent more than a decade serving in numerous operations across Afghanistan has warned that the data breach will pose a security threat for years to come. Ahmad Fahim said maintaining cover 'is part of staying alive' after it emerged that more than 100 British personnel — including members of the SAS and SBS — have been compromised. The personal information relating to serving and former members of the special forces and spies was emailed out in error, it emerged yesterday, after it was earlier revealed earlier in the week that thousands of Afghans had been put at risk by the error. Fahim, who often worked alongside US Special Forces in the country, warned that this type of data could be traded or passed on to other groups with greater capabilities than the Taliban. The spreadsheet sent out in February 2022 by a defence official was first revealed to have included the personal information of 18,714 Afghans before it emerged that members of MI6 and British special forces were also among those compromised. Fahim said: 'As a former British Paratrooper who served in numerous operations across Afghanistan for over a decade, often alongside US Special Forces, this is a story I take seriously on both a personal and professional level. 'The leak of personal data, including the identities of over 100 British officials, some from specialist units, is more than just a serious administrative failure. 'Once information like that is exposed beyond secure systems, it becomes impossible to contain. 'Whether it's picked up by Taliban-linked networks, traded to proxy groups, or passed on to actors with broader capabilities, the long-term consequences are real.' Fahim, who worked across Afghanistan for more than a decade, assesses that the Taliban and their affiliates have become more sophisticated in how they deal with sensitive material. He raised the prospect that the information may have been traded or passed on to nefarious actors with greater capabilities than the Islamic militants — including foreign intelligence services. Red flags that have already emerged include one person named in the dataset threatening to post it in a Facebook group. The data is also understood to have exchanged hands in the UK for a large sum of money, according to The Times. 'The Taliban and their affiliates have become far more structured in how they gather and move sensitive material,' Fahim said. 'What starts as a local breach can quickly become global. 'Data like this can be sold or traded through shadow networks, shared with foreign intelligence services, or used for cyber-tracking, impersonation, mapping patterns of life, or even targeting contacts abroad. 'These aren't far-fetched scenarios, they're the kinds of risks that follow people for years, especially those who've served in classified or high-threat roles. Operational security isn't just about what happens in theatre, it's about protecting our people long after the mission ends. 'Many of those named in this leak worked in roles where staying off the radar wasn't optional, it was part of staying alive and keeping others safe. 'That line's now been crossed.' A secret programme to relocate Afghans named in the dataset to the UK took place while the details of the breach were kept secret. The largest covert evacuation mission in British peacetime history could end up costing billions of pounds. As a decorated veteran who encountered the Taliban firsthand and saw the chaos and death of the UK's mass evacuation from Kabul airport in 2021, Fahim believes a threat remains to those still in the country. He now works in the security industry after a military career which began when he served as an interpreter for US Special Forces in Afghanistan, where he was born, before joining the Paras. 'The threat to Afghan nationals still inside the country is even more immediate,' Fahim said. 'Many have no cover, no fallback. The fact that both British and Afghan individuals were exposed shows the scale of this failure. The least we owe these people is honesty and protection.' The breach took place when the official trying to verify Afghan applications to come to the UK erroneously sent out a large database. A super-injunction, meaning even the secrecy order itself could be reported, prevented the blunder being made public. In the meantime, the largest covert evacuation in peacetime British history was launched to get Afghans out of the country. Entitled the Afghanistan Response Route, the programme has cost around £400 million so far and could amount to £850 million by the time it ends. 'Mistakes happen, but what makes this worse is how long it was kept quiet, not just ignored but actively hidden under an injunction,' Fahim said. 'When something this serious goes wrong, leadership isn't about silence, it's about taking responsibility, fixing it, and ensuring it never happens again. If we say we stand by those who stood by us, then we've got to do better than this.' The latest revelations can be reported after a High Court hearing yesterday, which enabled some of the spreadsheet contents to be reported. In a statement to parliament on Tuesday, Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'My first concern has been to notify as many people as possible who are affected by the data incident and to provide them with further advice.' More Trending Mr Healey continued that it had not been possible to contact everyone affected as he outlined how anyone concerned about the breach can seek further security advice, including through a 'self-checker tool'. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'It's a longstanding policy of successive governments to not comment on Special Forces. 'We take the security of our personnel very seriously and personnel, particularly those in sensitive positions, always have appropriate measures in place to protect their security.' Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact MORE: British spies and SAS soldiers' personal details leaked in Afghan data breach MORE: Roll call of nameless Afghans killed in action while serving the UK MORE: Paratrooper tells how race out of Afghanistan left devastating toll
Express Tribune
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
'Facing Pakistan won't be easy'
Pakistan and Bangladesh will play three T20Is in Dhaka this month. Photo: AFP/File Bangladesh captain Litton Das on Wednesday described the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan as a significant challenge, emphasising the strength of Pakistan's bowling attack. Speaking at a press conference after the third T20I against Sri Lanka, he acknowledged that conditions in Dhaka could be difficult and that Pakistan would present a formidable test. "Both series wins are massive. Winning in the West Indies and Sri Lanka is no small feat," he said. Das made it clear that the series against Pakistan will not be easy, as their players have become familiar with the conditions by playing in the BPL. "Pakistan in Mirpur won't be easy. They have a varied bowling attack and understand our conditions, especially through the BPL. But we believe we can win if we play smart cricket," he added. Das expressed uncertainty about how the pitch will behave against Pakistan but noted that continuous rain in Dhaka could make batting conditions difficult. "I don't know how the Mirpur wicket is going to behave during the Pakistan series. I think it is raining in Dhaka every day, so the wicket can be difficult for batting in such conditions," he said. For the unversed, the Pakistan will play three T20Is against Bangladesh on July 20, 22 and 24, with Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium set to host all the matches. The series marks a rematch between the two sides after their last encounter in May, where Pakistan sealed a 3-0 clean sweep at home. Earlier this week, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officially announced ticket prices for the upcoming series, with prices ranging from Tk 300 to Tk 3,500, catering to a wide range of fans. The BCB has prioritised a digital-first approach for ticket distribution. Starting July 15, tickets will be available exclusively online through the official eTicket platform. Alternate series he Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has begun exploring the possibility of organising an away series during the now-vacant August window, following India's decision to postpone their scheduled tour of Bangladesh. The home series, originally scheduled for August 1731, 2025 and featuring three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), has been rescheduled for September 2026. The postponement came after the Indian government advised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to delay the tour due to rising political tensions between the two countries. Speaking to the media in Dhaka, BCB Director Fahim said the board is actively looking for opportunities to play abroad during the unexpected gap in the international calendar. "For that period, we were initially considering internal matches, similar to when the 'A' team played against the national side in previous years. That was part of our earlier planning," Fahim explained. He further stated that the BCB remains flexible and is prepared with contingency plans. "Right now, we are assessing whether it's feasible to organise a series with another team abroad, even for a short duration. If that doesn't materialise, we will conduct a domestic tournament instead," he added. The BCB is expected to finalise its alternative plans soon, aiming to ensure that players remain engaged and match-fit despite the disruption to the schedule. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is scheduled to host 49 international matches in the current Future Tours Programme (FTP) cycle concluding in May 2027. These include eight Test matches, two each against Ireland, Pakistan, West Indies, and England along with 20 ODIs and 21 T20 Internationals.
North Wales Chronicle
25-06-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
MS hails care worker who served Indian feast at care home
Fahim Bin Ferdous, who works at Pendine Park's Bryn Seiont Newydd care home in Caernarfon, treated residents and staff to a feast of Indian food from Caernarfon Tandoori Restaurant, which he also manages. Arfon MS Sian Gwenllian wrote to Mr Ferdous to thank him for the gesture, calling it a 'heartwarming act of kindness' that brought joy to many. Ms Gwenllian said: "I'm writing to sincerely thank you for your generous gesture in providing a feast for the residents of Bryn Seiont Newydd. "It was a heartwarming act of kindness that brought joy to many, I'm sure. "It was also a wonderful way to celebrate your well-deserved recognition as the best Indian restaurant in Wales earlier this year, as well as to showcase the excellence of local produce. "I hope you're enjoying your time working with the team at Bryn Seiont Newydd. "It must be incredibly rewarding, and it's clear that your presence is helping to ensure the residents feel truly cared for." READ MORE: What's in a seafood stick? Vici's guide to a tasty, healthier snack Mr Ferdous, who moved to the UK from Bangladesh, began working at the care home in October 2022 and now works three days a week while managing the restaurant. He said: "I really wasn't expecting it, the letter was a real surprise, it was a bit like 'wow'. "It was so kind, it was a nice thing to get. "Everything I do at the care home all comes from the support I get from my colleagues, they are amazing, very supportive. "I love what I do and I love helping and supporting the residents and working with my amazing colleagues. "Maybe I am lucky, but my colleagues at the care home are the best and I really enjoy managing the restaurant too. "It's nice to feel appreciated, and it's great to have two jobs that I really love and which are about serving people and helping them." Sandra Evans, home manager at Bryn Seiont Newydd, said: "It was lovely for Fahim to receive the letter and lovely for all of us here at the home to know that what we are doing is noticed, it is recognised. "The Indian food Fahim provided went down a treat with the residents and the staff and it was a really special occasion. "The staff work hard every day to offer the best care to the residents and it's always fun when we do something to give residents an enjoyable experience." The care home is part of Pendine Park, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The group now operates nine care homes and employs more than 860 people.
Sharjah 24
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Sharjah 24
DGR and Kuwaiti Consulate discuss cultural, educational ties
Joining the meeting were Khaled Khalil Al Farsi, Diplomatic Attaché at the Kuwaiti Consulate, and Sheikh Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasimi, Director of DGR. Sheikh Fahim welcomed the Consul General, underlining the significance of the visit as a reflection of the strong fraternal ties between Sharjah and Kuwait. He emphasised that the meeting provided a valuable platform for advancing coordination and collaboration in areas of mutual interest. The discussion also covered support for Kuwaiti students enrolled at universities in Sharjah. The Consul General affirmed his commitment to ensuring the well-being and comfort of students and their families during their stay or visits to the emirate. He praised the comprehensive educational environment in Sharjah and emphasised the need for continued collaboration to streamline related services, including access to healthcare and insurance. Concluding the visit, Sheikh Fahim announced plans for an official delegation from the Emirate of Sharjah to visit the State of Kuwait later this year, as part of ongoing efforts to bolster bilateral ties and explore new prospects for cooperation and knowledge exchange.
New Indian Express
03-06-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Language is no barrier for this six-year-old Afghan girl in Kerala
KOTTAYAM: 'Ente peru Behsa Karimi,' she said in a sweet yet crisply articulated voice, before proceeding to confidently count to ten. Her Malayalam belying her origins in war-torn Afghanistan. In a classroom buzzing with the chatter of children and the fresh scent of books, the six-year-old captivated the hearts of everyone. Hailing from Herat, third-largest city in Afghanistan, Behsa is one of 16 students admitted to the first grade at Mudiyoorkara Govt LP School. She is the daughter of Mohammad Fahim Karimi, a research student of management studies at MG University, and Ellaha Zahir. Fahim first arrived in Kottayam, with family, in 2021 to pursue his postgraduate studies. The family currently resides near Thellakom. With his wife and children accompanying him on his student visa, Behsa had the opportunity to learn Malayalam at a very young age. She also completed her preschool education in Kottayam, which contributed to her fluency in the local tongue. 'My Malayalam vocabulary is limited. I find the language quite challenging. However, my daughter has picked up the language well. She attended pre-school at SH School here. I think she will not face any language barriers, because she is a fast learner. I hope my daughter will help her classmates learn English as well,' said Fahim. Fahim expressed his happiness at the warm and welcoming attitude of the local people. 'My family really appreciates their attitude,' he said.
