Pakistan and China have been enjoying friendly relationship, deep-rooted in mutual trust, for the last 57 years. This friendship between both countries is higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the oceans.[1] Basically the relations between both countries are excellent example of shared perceptions on important issues. Periodic consultation, especially for critical domestic/international issues, is a regular feature. Pak-China friendship revolves around the strategic co-operation as both countries are following the policy of regional stability. China has been helping Pakistan in different sectors especially in defense, economy, energy and infrastructure.[2] Pakistan, nonetheless, has adopted the ‘One China’ policy since the beginning of their relations, and still believes in it.

Recently Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf visited China and his visit was reported to be one of the successful visits in the history of Pak-China relations as multiple issues were discussed and different plans were conversed for the enhancement of bi-lateral relations between both countries.

After a few days of Musharraf’s visit, a statement from Chinese Ambassador in Pakistan, Liou Zhao Hui, left a huge ground of thinking for the Pakistani government that the militant activists of Turkmenistan Islamic Movement in Xinjiang, the western province of China, often use Pakistan’s territory for their activities. He declared very circumspectly that these elements are trying to badly impact on Pakistan-China relations and it becomes essential for Pakistan to keep an eye on these rudiments. He further said that Pakistani government and people are China’s friend but there are some elements active in Pakistan which want to destroy the relations of both Countries.[3]

However to clear his argument he further said that China wanted Pakistan to be aware of these disruptive elements and that’s why first time China has publicly spoken about difficulties in relations with Pakistan.[4]

Xinjiang Issue
Xinjiang is a huge territory situated in the west of China bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan. Xinjiang has been posing a significant security threat to the Chinese authorities for many years as different Islamic separatist groups are active there. These groups include Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Eastern Turkistan Liberation Organization, the World Uighur Youth Congress and the East Turkistan Information Centre. They have been active in different terrorist activities since 1990s in particular Xinjiang, rest of China and in other neighboring countries. Basically the aim of these organizations is the creation of Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, and for the achievement of their purpose these groups are using different tactics like inclusive bombings, shooting, arsons, poison attacks and other violent terrorist activities to pressurize the state.[5]  Basically the ETIM is most influential and active Chinese Muslims organization in the area now-a-days which has been declared as the terrorist organization by the government of China and the US.  

Although ETIM has links with different Islamic terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, Jammu and Kashmir, Turkey, and Middle East and in other Central Asian countries but the core area of their Operation is Xinjiang. The activists of ETIM was indulged in the Cold war as the anti-Soviet Mujahedeen in Afghanistan and during the Afghan jihad war these Uighur separatists came to Pakistan and were trained by some Pakistani militant organizations and settled in the tribal areas of Pakistan. However ETIM has been functioning in Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Pakistan for the purpose of Jihad where they enhanced close connections with other jihadi groups. In the case of Xinjiang that movement is involved in different riot activities against the Chinese state’s authorities in which the group has carried out more then 200 terrorist incidents in Xinjiang till 2005 in which 162deaths and 440 injuries were reported.[6]   

Role of Pakistan
Pakistan has always supported China’s point of view on the issues of Tibet and Xinjiang. Regarding the Xinjiang issue Pakistan always favored China and ensured that it will help China at every position to solve that problem. But in reality Xinjiang is a major point which poses a credible question mark on the friendship of both countries.  

The role of our religious scholars can’t be ignored in that regards as our religious groups also satisfied Chinese government that they will never support any activity in China’s territory. In 2003 China had provided the list of terrorists to Pakistan those were involved in riot activities in Xinjiang and after 9/11 were hiding in the Northern Areas of Pakistan.[7]

Once again China provides a clue to Pakistan that there are some elements in Pakistan those are trying to effect the Pak-China relations however China never used the harsh wording on that issue but it is a convincing point for Pakistan to increase the trust level between both countries.

In fact China says that Uighur separatists had developed ties with Pakistani Jihadi organizations as the freedom of Xinjiang is an ambition of some jihadi organizations of Pakistan namely, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamiat ul-Islam, and Harkat-ul-jihad-ul-Islami.[8] Basically during the Taliban’s regime some Muslim persons came in Pakistan from Xinjiang where they had started learning different guerilla tactics from different militant organizations based in Pakistan.[9] Some of these Chinese persons were settled in the tribal areas of Pakistan especially in Waziristan.  Few years back when Pakistani government became an ally in US-led war on terror and started operation in the tribal areas of Pakistan, a person named Hassan was killed who was supposed to be the valued leader of the “Turkmenistan Islamic Movement” however both countries were indulged in the secret talks before 9/11 but after the event of 9/11 that process of talks was stopped and different persons of Xinjiang were captured by the USA forces from Afghanistan.[10]

Role of USA
USA had declared the “Turkmenistan Islamic Movement” as a terrorist organization in 2002 after finding its close relations with al-Qaeda. But in reality USA has complex attitude towards that issue which makes USA’s stance more sophisticated regarding Xinjiang. After launching war on terror, USA had captured various Chinese nationals from Afghanistan but in spite of sending those to China USA had settled them in European Countries.[11]  

According to the Ameer Hamza (Al-Badar Mujahideen Commander) USA had captured some Chinese Mujahideen during Afghan war those would be used against China after the brainwashing as USA’s agents were preparing them to send to Xinjiang.[12] However China is constantly accusing USA of promoting terrorism in China. China had sent its security officials to Washington two weeks after the 9/11 for consultation on counter-terrorism program. These officials were demanding the 3000 Uighurs who were captured by USA forces from Afghanistan but results were not satisfactory.[13] In fact after 9/11 the whole scenario has been changed and world has become more instable than ever before as each country is using war on terror for its own sake. In the case of Xinjiang there are more chances that USA will use these militants against China as politically stable, economically sound and militarily credible China can never ever be in the favor of USA as growing capabilities of Chinese navy and air force are posing threat to USA.[14]  

Moreover USA’s role is complex as it policies are still not clear regarding the issue. Some major powers are also showing a mixed response towards the issue. In Germany there are different organizations working for the Xinjiang movement such as World Uighur Congress Germany, Uighur American Association Washington and Uighur Human Rights Project Washington etc. Not only Germany but some other Central Asian countries along with Turkey have sympathetic emotions for that movement.[15]   

Conclusion
In the connection of Pak-China relations, Xinjiang issue can be assumed as a perpetual threat as no state can compromise over its sovereignty. While the whole world has been pointing fingers to Pakistan’s tribal areas and terming it as an epicenter of terrorism, China has been very cautious in its statements towards Pakistan and its tribal areas. Pakistan needs to understand the Chinese concerns as do Chinese understand Pakistani concerns, especially regarding terrorism menace.

The history of good relations between the both countries has been marked by the mutual trust factor, not only on state-level but also on people-level. There is further need to enhance people-to-people contacts besides augmenting diplomatic, trade, defence and other bilateral ties.   

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