Afghanistan expels Chinese Communist spy Hua Chunying says she was unaware of it

The head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security says it has expelled at least 10 Chinese nationals suspected of spying in Afghanistan. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded that it was unaware of the situation.

Ahmad Zia Saraj, the head of Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security, recently confirmed to India’s parliament that the national security service broke up a Chinese Communist spy network last month. Saraj said it was a sensitive case and he could not disclose details.

The Hindustan Times reported Wednesday that it was the first time Afghan security authorities had confirmed that Afghanistan had captured the Chinese nationals on charges of spying. The newspaper said at least 10 Chinese nationals were linked to Beijing’s intelligence agency, and at least two of them had ties to the Haqqani network, a Taliban-affiliated terrorist group. The group is a major force behind the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The Hindustan Times said the Chinese nationals were arrested in Kabul last month. Afghanistan deported the 10 Chinese suspected of espionage and terrorist activities under pressure from Beijing, and arranged for them to return home on a special flight arranged by the Chinese.

In response to the Hindustan Times report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying replied at a press conference on Wednesday (Jan. 6) that she was not aware of the matter.

A senior Afghan government source told Reuters that documents and information showed the arrested Chinese nationals were working with a Pakistani man believed to be a middleman for the Taliban insurgents. Taliban insurgents are fighting the U.S.-backed Afghan government in Kabul and Islamabad. A Taliban spokesman, for his part, denied any connection to the incident, in which a Chinese national was suspected of espionage.

Neither the Pakistani diplomatic service nor the Afghan presidency has commented on the matter.

But three senior officials interviewed by Reuters said the Chinese Communist government sent envoys to fly to Kabul to demand the release of the detained Chinese nationals. Afghan officials said the 13 Chinese nationals included construction workers, carpenters, doctors and bakery owners.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has demanded a formal apology from the Chinese Communist Party. The Chinese envoy told Afghan officials that the Chinese side was not aware of what the Chinese nationals had done. When they return to China, the authorities will conduct an investigation.

There are reports that Afghanistan, under pressure from Beijing, does not appear to have insisted on its original demands, or perhaps some deal was struck.