Terrorism in China

This incident alone should not be enough to damage our relationship with China but it should teach us to be more wary.


Editorial August 02, 2011
Terrorism in China

When our erstwhile American allies accuse us of harbouring terrorists, it no longer comes as a surprise. Similar accusations from China, whom we consider a true friend, carry an additional sting. China has claimed that terrorist elements in its minority Muslim Uighur population is responsible for twin attacks in Kashgar and that they received training at camps in Pakistan. China’s accusation fits neatly in the narrative of Pakistan as the hub of all terrorist activity. The truth, however, is far more complicated.

The Uighur population in China has suffered a long history of persecution. In 1997, the Uighur’s protested their repression at the hands of the Chinese government. This led to a long period of mass arrests and torture that continue to this day. The Chinese government handed over the Uighurs to the US, claiming that they were involved in terrorism. Housed at Guantanamo Bay, these detainees were found to be completely innocent and since China refused to take them back, they were relocated to Bermuda. Given their second-class status in China, many sought sanctuary in Azad Jammu Kashmir. That some of them have turned to violence should not come as a surprise. Violence is never a solution to repression but China is equally wrong to conflate the Uighur struggle for basic rights with international terrorism. And it compounds the error by shifting the blame to Pakistan. This incident alone should not be enough to damage our relationship with China but it should teach us to be more wary. Our alliance with China, like all bilateral relationships, is based on need, not love. A mutual distrust of India sparked and sustained relations but that may be changing as China seeks greater economic ties with India. And the Uighur problem has forced China to seek friendship with traditional foe Russia, which is dealing with its own Muslim separatists. No alliance is permanent and the Chinese accusation should serve as a reminder that even with and ally as close as Beijing, we need to be careful.



Published in The Express Tribune, August 3rd, 2011.

COMMENTS (35)

Observer | 13 years ago | Reply

@malik: Good points. In case you don't know, Pakistani Establishment has been deliberately settling Pujnabi Sunnis in Pakistan controlled Kashmir that includes Azad Kashmir, Gilgit, Baltistan and other northern areas, all with the aim of changing the demographics. This has been going on for the past six decades. This is one big reason why the Shia, who were once the vast majority in Gigit-Baltistan-Northern areas, are opposing Pakistani occupation of their lands.

sundar | 13 years ago | Reply

@Amjad: What Pakistanis do not or refuse to understand is the so called UN mandate is as good as dead and was acknowledged by Musharaf. If you guys really want to take that mandate seriously, whole of Kashmir has to be de-militarized. Get rid of all your security forces from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, let all the Pandits go back to their home and get back the territory illegally presented to China then talk about the mandate.If Kashmiris see themselves as part of Pakistan why so few of them prefer to join your country?

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