Violence should not be tolerated

Beijing: The Pakistani Ambassador to China condemned the recent riots in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and said violence should not be tolerated “under any circumstances”.

In an exclusive interview with chinadaily.com.cn, Ambassador Masood Khan said the recent developments in Xinjiang are “very unfortunate” and that the swift actions taken by the Chinese government were the “right thing to do”.

“Violence has many forms and manifestations, and no form or manifestations should ever by sanctioned or tolerated,” he said.

The riots, which took place on July 5 in Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, have so far left 192 dead and 1,721 injured, according to the Xinjiang government.

Ambassador Khan said Pakistan has full confidence in the “capability and capacity” of the Chinese government to restore order and peace.

In response to some reports that Pakistan’s borderland with Xinjiang might become a safe haven for East Turkestan separatists, Ambassador Khan promised that Pakistan will do all it can to keep them out.

“We’ve had enough of safe havens; we’ve had enough of terrorists migrating to our part of the world and wreaking havoc on our society. Our soil will never be used by terrorists, from Xinjiang or any other region,” he said.

Ambassador Khan has visited Xinjiang several times this year, most recently on July 2 to take part in the 5th annual Central and South Asian Commodity Fair organized by the Kashgar prefecture.

He lauded the “spirit of dynamism” and unity that he witnessed during his stay in Xinjiang, saying that the “marvelous” growth rates of Xinjiang and Kashgar – about 12% and 27% respectively – are key to ensuring the stability and development there.

“It is the responsibility not only of the central government in China but neighboring states to make this experiment of economic development and social harmony and stability successful, because it is in everybody’s interest,” he said.

Video: Christie Lee & Ren Cong

Script: Qi Xiao