Pak PM mum over Uighurs issue as China is 'good friend'

PM Khan spoke at length about the issue of Kashmir but stated that Chinese are sensitive and that's why Islamabad avoids discussing the Uighur issue with them.

Bonn: Despite the global outcry over China's treatments of its minorities, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has chosen to remain tight-lipped on deplorable conditions of Uighur Muslims in China, saying Beijing is a good friend and has helped Islamabad in most difficult situations.

In an exclusive interview with German-based Deutsche Welle on January 16, Imran Khan spoke at length about the issue of Kashmir but he said Chinese are sensitive and that's why Islamabad avoids discussing the Uighur issue with them.

When asked why he is not very vocal on the issue of Uighur Muslim but is very critical to India over Kashmir issue, Khan said, "Well, mainly for two reasons. First, the scale of what is happening in India is not comparable to what is supposedly happening to the Uighurs in China. Second, China has been a great friend. It has helped us in our most difficult times because of the economic crisis my government inherited. Therefore, we do talk about things with China privately, not publicly, as these are sensitive issues."

China has been condemned internationally for cracking down on the minorities living in their countries. China has been accused of oppressing the Uighurs by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities and sending the community to undergo some form of forceful re-education or indoctrination. However, Pakistan has stayed mum over this issue.

When India abrogated Article 370 in August last year, Pakistan ramped up its rhetoric against New Delhi and had expressed concern over the situation of Muslims in the region. Khan even had called himself an ambassador of Kashmiri people.

However, when it comes to China's treatment of Muslims, Pakistan has been mum and when asked to comment on it, the Pakistan PM has tried to brush it aside saying that a lot is going on in its own country. The United States had also asked Pakistan to express the same level of concern about Muslims detentions in Western China as they do for Kashmir.