Overseas Islamic rebels operating in China’s restive Xinjiang province may figure in talks during Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif’s visit here this week, reflecting Beijing’s concerns about “close collusion” between local and foreign militants in the region bordering PoK.
Sharif is arriving on a five-day visit on July 3 during which he is scheduled to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier li Keqiang and other leaders and will also visit Shanghai and Guangzhou.
“We have taken note there is closer collusion between the relevant forces and the East Turkistan Islamic Movement,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying today said referring to the separatist militant group active in Xinjiang.
Officials in the Muslim Uygur majority Xinjiang, in the past, have alleged that some of the local militants were trained in camps in Pakistan, which closely cooperates with China against militant activity in the region.
Thirty-five people including several police officers were killed in Xinjiang in the last four days when militants launched deadly attacks in Turpan area and police are said to have busted a 17-member militant cell at Hotan just before they were to carry out major attacks.