Pak-trained Chinese Muslims fighting in Syria

A number of Uygur Muslims from China’s volatile Xinjiang province are being trained in Pakistan-based militant camps and then sent to Syria to fight against President Bashar al-Assad regime, the Syrian envoy here has said.

A number of Uygur Muslims from China’s volatile Xinjiang province are being trained in Pakistan-based militant camps and then sent to Syria to fight against President Bashar al-Assad regime, the Syrian envoy here has said.

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“Our informant told us around 30 young Uyghur men went to Pakistan to receive military training and then went to Turkey,” Syrian Ambassador to China Imad Moustapha told state-run Global Times today.

“Our estimate is that there are around 30 Chinese involved. We believe the reason they went to Turkey after training in Pakistan is to go to Syria. Most probably, they are now fighting in the northern city of Aleppo but we’re not sure about this,” he said.

Significantly his allegations carried in Chinese state media comes just ahead of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s five day visit here beginning July 4. The issue will figure in Chinese leaders talks with Sharif as one such militant was captured in Xinjiang recently.