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CHINA-PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN-DIPLOMACY
China, Pakistan, Afghanistan agree on terror cooperation
BEIJING, Dec 26, 2017 (BSS/AFP) – Ministers from Afghanistan, Pakistan and
China met in Beijing on Tuesday where they agreed to work together to tackle
the threat of terrorism tied to China’s vast western Xinjiang region.
The first trilateral meeting of foreign ministers from the countries comes
as China steps up its investment in its neighbouring nations as part of its
trillion-dollar One Belt One Road investment initiative.
China depends on Afghanistan and Pakistan to help control Xinjiang’s
borders, where analysts say Beijing’s repressive policies have engendered
riots and terrorist attacks by members of the mostly Muslim Uighur ethnic
minority that calls the area home, although China disputes the claim.
Beijing regularly accuses exiled Uighur separatist groups such as the
shadowy East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) of orchestrating attacks in
resource-rich Xinjiang and other parts of China.
It has expressed concern about Uighur militants finding sanctuary in
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“We agreed to cooperate in fighting terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations and without any distinctions of any sort,” said Afghan foreign
minister Salahuddin Rabbani after the meeting.
Afghanistan will continue its “resolute fight against ETIM and their
support groups and networks, and overall counterterrorism cooperation”, he
added.
China has long pushed the international community for support in addressing
the problem, which it says stems from the infiltration of “radical” religious
groups into Xinjiang.
In response, Beijing has placed strict controls on religious practice in
the region, turning it into a virtual police state, in a campaign that
analysts say has enflamed separatist sentiment. Chinese foreign minister Wang
Yi said the three parties had reached complete consensus in fighting
terrorism, adding that China would also “fully leverage” Xinjiang as a base
for economic cooperation with the bordering countries.
China’s Belt and Road infrastructure project seeks to revive ancient trade
routes, including a massive overland network stretching through Xinjiang and
neighbouring Afghanistan and Pakistan towards Europe.
China’s expanding economic presence in Pakistan and Afghanistan has also
brought some terrorism related setbacks.
This summer two Chinese citizens travelling on business visas to Pakistan
were kidnapped in Quetta, the provincial capital of mineral-rich Balochistan
province. The Islamic State group claimed responsiblity for killing them.
Pakistan said at the time that the two had been engaged in illegal
preaching.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1706 hrs