The following report is a complimentary offering from the MEMRI Iran Threat Monitor Project (ITMP). For more information, write to memri@memri.org with "ITMP Subscription" in the subject line.
In a Pashtu-language booklet, the Islamic State's Khurasan Province (ISIS-K) accuses the Taliban of betraying the Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang province while supporting China, U.S., and other unbeliever nations of the world. It highlights China's atrocities in Xinjiang province and urges Uyghur Muslims to launch martyrdom attacks in China.
The booklet, "Oh, My East Turkestan," appeared as an article titled "East Turkestan: A Wounded Part of Islamic Body" in Issue 17 of ISIS-K's Pashtu-language magazine "Khurasan Ghag." The booklet is published by Al-Azaim Media Foundation, a media outlet linked to the Islamic State Khurasan Province (ISIS-K), which defines itself as a supporting entity for the Islamic State (ISIS).
"America and Europe have continuously turned historical mosques in Andalusia into churches and have permanently continued with the project of the implementation of democracy in the world while the barbaric Chinese are increasingly sucking the blood of Uyghur Muslims," it says, accusing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA, i.e., the Afghan Taliban) of betraying the interests of the ummah.
"The desire of the current Taliban traitor militia of the Islamic Ummah and their unbeliever masters will never be fulfilled... The heroes of Islam [ISIS mujahideen] are busy uprooting them from every part [of the world] and they and their masters will soon be sent packing from Khurasan and then from the whole world," the booklet declares.
Without giving a source the booklet says China has demolished 29,000 mosques and martyred up to 40 million Muslims since the beginning of the occupation of the Uyghur region, which "is equal to the number of people martyred in Iraq, Afghanistan, China, Palestine, and Bosnia."
The booklet says that while the Islamic and unbelieving nations admit that China is committing various cruelties and atrocities against the Uyghur Muslims and has usurped their independence and rights, they do practically nothing because the Uyghurs are Muslims, issuing "only false statements and condemnations" on the Uyghur issue.
Iran Accused Of Spreading Shi'ite Beliefs Among Uyghurs
The booklet reads: "As you are well aware that the rafidhites [rejectionist, a pejorative term for Shi'ites] are always thirsty for the blood and honor of Muslims, always support unbelievers against Muslims and jointly suppressed them, so the same is being repeated in East Turkestan. Iran has cemented relations with China and according to an agreement, they are committed to taking quick steps for the promotion of the dirty beliefs of the Rafidha among the Uyghur Muslims," the booklet says.
It further says: "The support of the Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, [the United Arab] Emirates and Qatar to China against the Muslims of East Turkestan and Uyghur Muslims is not hidden from anyone. They very shamelessly call them terrorists and laud China's cruelties against them [Uyghur Muslims]," it says.
The article focuses its criticism on the Afghan Taliban for their silence on the Uyghur Muslims: "China is one of the few countries which did not close its embassy in Afghanistan after the Taliban came to power [in August 2021]. The same relations [between China and the Taliban] and China's economic projects [in Afghanistan] silenced the Taliban against Uyghur Muslims."
"Like other apostate governments, [the Taliban also] supported China and encouraged China to further suppress these Uyghur 'terrorists,'" it states.
"For the last several years, the Taliban formed strong relations with China through Pakistan's intelligence and military agencies. These relations are completely contrary to the perceptions of shari'a," the booklet says, adding that China is among the countries eager to work with the Taliban on the condition that the Taliban will fulfill their counterterrorism demands.
China's 10-Point Goals In Afghanistan
The booklet summarizes China's main objectives in Afghanistan. "The goals that have brought the Chinese atheist communist government close to the Taliban spiritualist militia should be mentioned. China summarizes these goals with three words: Political, economic, and security goals. We briefly explain it in the following points:
"Looting Afghanistan's mineral [resources] completely, buying Afghanistan's exports [goods] at low price and selling it on high price in the international market.
"Occupying Afghanistan's economy in the name of economic relations and projects.
"Decreasing political and economic influence of its political rival, America, on Afghanistan's soil and increasing its own influence.
"Protecting the security of its own country, making the Taliban fight against their own enemies i.e., the Islamic State, and using them as proxies. Fighting China's war on foreign soil, Afghanistan, by the hand of the 'Taliban militia'...
"Collecting intelligence in one name or another through its embassy in Afghanistan, closely monitoring their situation, assessing their operation and power, investigating their stay and recruitment [of fighters], perceiving threats to their rule, recruiting spies against the mujahideen, and others.
"Buying some selfish Taliban leaders for their interests, appointing the [Taliban] leaders who are committed to their interests in their intelligence, political, and economic projects in exchange for material gains.
"Using Afghanistan as a transit route because Afghanistan is a trade and transit corridor for central and south Asian countries.
"Through close relations with the Taliban, giving the impression to the Muslims of the world that they are not against Islam. In the same way, they want to show their cruelties against the Uyghur Muslims on the soil of East Turkestan as [a war against] terrorism.
"Recruiting Afghan cadres to their universities and training centers in order to promote the idea of communism in Afghanistan, turn hatred against China into love among the general public, and weaken Islamic feelings and the spirit of Afghans.
"Fulfilling the dream of Chinese imperialism in the future and turning Afghanistan into one of their colonies."
"The Only Solution To Your Problems Lies In Waging Jihad In Allah's Path – Rise, Oh Uyghur Muslims!"
The booklet says that the attack on the Chinese in Kabul was in revenge for the cruelties perpetrated against the Uyghur Muslims. It urges Muslims of the world to consider the Muslims of East Turkestan, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Kashmir, and other places of the world as their own body, to feel their pain and sufferings, and to work to solve these problems.
"For this massive goal, pledge allegiance to [ISIS caliph] Khalifa Abu al-Hussain Al-Hashimi Hifzaullah. We also call on the innocent Uyghur Muslims not to be hopeless or discouraged and to stay firm in their resolve and stand firm against the enemies of Allah, take up swords and arms and wage jihad.
"The only solution to your problems lies in waging jihad in Allah's path. Rise, oh Uyghur Muslims! Tie Istishhadi strips [i.e., suicide jackets] on your backs and target the enemies and turn the land of East Turkestan into flames of fire," the booklet concludes.
The full text of this post is available to subscribers.
Please login or register to request subscription information from MEMRI