East Turkestan Islamic Movement threatens China's security

Beijing/Kabul – A Canadian think tank has warned that the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIAM), Uyghur ethnic group in China’s Xinjiang province, could threaten China’s national security. Despite efforts by China and Pakistan to make the Taliban sever its ties with the group, the Taliban have not responded. A few days ago, President Xi Jinping had called on China to be ready for military conflict as the United States withdraws from Afghanistan. The withdrawal of the United States would provide a base for the Uyghurs in Xinjiang was a claim made by the Chinese regime at the time.

A Taliban delegation visited China last month. At the time, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had warned the Taliban delegation that ETIAM was a direct threat to Chinese national security. The Chinese foreign minister had claimed that ETIAM would hurt Chinese interests in Pakistan and Xinjiang. ETIAM and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were found to be involved in bomb blasts at the Dasu project last month. Since then, China has made its stand more aggressive against the ETIAM.

‘ETIAM’ is internationally recognized as a terrorist organization. The group influences the provinces of Kunduz, Takhar and Badakhshan in Afghanistan. It was also revealed that ETIAM terrorists were involved in the conflict in Syria. Against this backdrop, The International Forum for Rights and Security thinktank from Canada claimed that the organization could threaten Chinese national security. The study also pointed out that the former US administration of President Donald Trump had removed ETIAM from the list of terrorist groups.

Various reports have surfaced that China has intensified its atrocities against the Uyghurs over the last few years. Using it, organizations like ETIAM will increase their influence and increase their attacks, the report said. At the same time, an Asia Times report claimed that the Taliban would not sever its ties completely with ETIAM. Despite reassurances from senior Taliban leaders to China and Pakistan, the Taliban commands are not ready for it, the Asia Times reported.