Pakistan Denies Involvement with China’s Xinjiang Terrorists

Posted August 24th, 2011 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
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Pakistan's Foreign Minister has denied claims that his country had any involvement in the deadly terrorist attacks in China's Xinjiang province late last month.

Hina Rabbani Khar, who is in Beijing on a two-day visit, met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and her counterpart Yang Jiechi.

During a press conference Wednesday, she said Pakistan is working with China regarding the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, or ETIM, and is ready to do more to increase counter-terrorism cooperation.

Last month, at least 19 people were killed in violence in the far western city of Kashgar in Xinjiang province. Chinese authorities said one of the attacks was carried out by militants trained by the ETIM in weapons and bomb-making.

Xinjiang province lies on China's border with Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia and other countries.

The East Turkestan Islamic Movement is made up of ethnic Uighurs, a Chinese minority group that wants an independent homeland for the Xinjiang's Uighurs.