The group is likely to focus on ‘East Turkistan’. Uyghur separatists and their supporters refer to China’s Xinjiang or Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) as ‘East Turkistan’.
The loss of power of Bashar al-Assad in Syria can become a big problem for China. Uyghur-dominated militant group Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) has announced to spread ‘jihad’ from Syria to China’s Xinjiang region. In an inflammatory video released on December 8, the group made more harsh anti-China statements than ever before. The group is likely to focus on ‘East Turkistan’. Uyghur separatists and their supporters refer to China’s Xinjiang or Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) as ‘East Turkistan’.
Security and strategic concerns have increased in the region since TIP’s new video. According to security observers, TIP used the Syrian civil war as a training ground after fleeing Xinjiang in the 1990s. It formed an alliance with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the leading Islamist rebel group in the devastated country. Over the past decade, TIP fighters gained combat experience in Syria. They took part in major attacks against forces loyal to ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
TIP fighters are believed to have played a major role in capturing strategic Syrian cities such as Latakia and Tartus. With the sudden collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime, TIP has vowed to ‘liberate’ East Turkistan (Xinjiang), which poses a direct threat to key XUAR cities such as the capital Urumqi, Kashgar and Aksu. The group’s propaganda videos, which feature combat-skilled fighters and their advanced tactics, raise fears about their ability to carry out international attacks.
This has increased the concern for Beijing. However, experts believe that the re-emergence of TIP could create problems for regional stability. This is an issue which can create problems for New Delhi also. TIP’s focus on Xinjiang could potentially destabilize China’s western border, which borders Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Instability in the region could create turmoil in the entire region by influencing extremist groups operating in South Asia.
Pakistan’s support to terrorist groups and its strategic proximity to Xinjiang could make it a facilitator of TIP’s activities. Experts say that given Pakistan’s deep involvement in cross-border terrorism against India, the possibility that Islamabad is tacitly supporting TIP’s activities or turning a blind eye to it cannot be ruled out. According to media reports, the TIP video talks about targeting Urumqi, Aksu and Kashgar.
The group’s main leader, Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, has spoken of revenge for China’s ‘treatment’ of the Uighurs. TIP’s ideology is based on Islamic fundamentalism as well as anti-Chinese sentiment. The group historically cites alleged Chinese oppression of Uyghurs to justify its protests. TIP leadership emphasizes commitment to ‘liberating’ East Turkestan from ‘Chinese occupation’. However, some experts doubt the group’s actual military capabilities.
