Introduction
The UK government revealed on July 15, 2025, that thousands of Afghans were quietly brought to Britain under a covert asylum initiative following a sensitive 2022 data breach. The breach, caused by an MoD official, exposed nearly 19,000 names of Afghans who had worked with British forces—putting them at risk under Taliban rule. A High Court gag order (super-injunction) kept the scheme hidden until it was recently lifted, allowing full transparency.
How the Afghan Response Route Worked
Following the leak, the UK launched the Afghan Response Route (ARR) in April 2024, targeting Afghans deemed at highest risk of Taliban retribution.
Defence Minister John Healey disclosed that around 900 named individuals and 3,600 of their relatives had already arrived or were in transit to the UK. Additional applications led to 600 more invitations, bringing the immediate scheme cost to around £400 million, with overall projections near £850 million. Meanwhile, since 2021, approximately 36,000 Afghans have been settled in the UK via various asylum pathways.
Transparency vs Security
The scheme operated under a super‑injunction from September 2023, concealing both the breach and the evacuation effort. The MoD argued that public disclosure would alert the Taliban, increasing danger. Once the injunction was lifted, a government review concluded the Taliban likely already had broad data access and that the marginal added risk was limited. The High Court ruled transparency was necessary for democratic accountability.
Broader Asylum Trends in the UK
While ARR evacuated those most at risk, the UK’s overall approach to Afghan asylum has shifted. In the year to March 2025, 8,069 Afghans claimed asylum—down 17%—compared to 11,048 Pakistani applicants, the latter increased by 58%. Historically, Afghans enjoyed a high protection grant rate (~95%), but that dropped to 47% in late 2024.
Additionally, around 38,023 people crossed the Channel by small boat between April 2024 and March 2025, with roughly 15% being Afghan.
Ongoing Challenges
Despite relocation efforts, a significant number of Afghans remain in legal limbo. As of June 2024, approximately 3,000 arrived Afghans remained in temporary hotel accommodations, while many faced stalled family reunification . Legal access remains limited; those denied asylum may wait years for appeals .
The Road Ahead
- ARR Closure: The secret route has been closed on the Defence Minister’s advice.
- Ongoing support: The government is expanding website support for those affected and handling lingering applications.
- Policy scrutiny: Debate continues over balancing national security with democratic transparency and refugee rights..