PAN, May 6, 2012

Iranian news agency reporter held on spying charges

By Mir Agha Samimi

An Afghan journalist with the state-run Iranian news agency was detained has been detained by intelligence operatives on the charge of spying for the neighbouring country, an official said on Sunday.

A knowledgeable source, who wanted not to be named, revealed the Fars News Agency (FAN) reporter was caught while transferring secret documents to the Iranian Embassy in Kabul.

He claimed the news service was controlled by Iran’s revolutionary guards. The detainee was currently being investigated by National Directorate of Security (NDS) personnel.

Abdul Wahid Hakimi, also the acting head of FNA in Kabul, had been taken to an unknown location, the news agency quoted his wife as saying.

"Abdul Wahid informed his family in a very short call that he had been arrested by NDS agents," his spouse said, adding that he had left home Saturday morning for a report on the Kabul Museum but did not return.

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