Pakistan bans three extremist outfits, on orders from China
Insurgent groups originally hail from outside Pakistan.
East Turkemanistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) are now banned in Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistani government on Wednesday decided to ban three international extremist organisations allegedly involved in insurgent activities in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, BBC Urdu reported.
The website quoted sources in the Ministry of Interior Affairs as saying that Chinese authorities and security agencies believed the three organisations were involved in extremist and insurgent activities in the Muslim-majority province of Xinjiang.
The outfits banned include the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and Islamic Jihad Union (IJU).
The said bodies have been the subject of much concern in discussions between the Chinese and Pakistani civilian and military authorities.
Ministry sources were also quoted as saying that Pakistan had been in contact with the Turkish and Uzbek governments over ETIM and IMU, and had learned that over half of the people constituting these bodies were individuals highly wanted by local authorities.
The outfits include 10 females who reportedly trained other women for suicide-bombing.
Pakistan is reported to have caught and arrested various members of these groups in operations against militants in North Waziristan and other tribal areas.
The government has enhanced security of Chinese diplomats in the country against possible attacks by these militants.
At least 50-60 organisations already exist on Pakistan's list of banned outfits.
Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly listed East Turkemanistan Islamic Movement as one of the banned organisations. The error is regretted.
The Pakistani government on Wednesday decided to ban three international extremist organisations allegedly involved in insurgent activities in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, BBC Urdu reported.
The website quoted sources in the Ministry of Interior Affairs as saying that Chinese authorities and security agencies believed the three organisations were involved in extremist and insurgent activities in the Muslim-majority province of Xinjiang.
The outfits banned include the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and Islamic Jihad Union (IJU).
The said bodies have been the subject of much concern in discussions between the Chinese and Pakistani civilian and military authorities.
Ministry sources were also quoted as saying that Pakistan had been in contact with the Turkish and Uzbek governments over ETIM and IMU, and had learned that over half of the people constituting these bodies were individuals highly wanted by local authorities.
The outfits include 10 females who reportedly trained other women for suicide-bombing.
Pakistan is reported to have caught and arrested various members of these groups in operations against militants in North Waziristan and other tribal areas.
The government has enhanced security of Chinese diplomats in the country against possible attacks by these militants.
At least 50-60 organisations already exist on Pakistan's list of banned outfits.
Correction: An earlier version of the story incorrectly listed East Turkemanistan Islamic Movement as one of the banned organisations. The error is regretted.