China seeks Pakistan help to nab terrorists

Beijing, April 6 (IANS) China wants Pakistan to help arrest six Islamist terrorists whose assets and funds have been frozen.

The six were core members of the "East Turkistan Islamic Movement", Xinhua quoted the ministry of public security as saying.

They have participated in organizing, planning and executing terrorist acts against Chinese targets within and outside the country, the ministry said.

The ministry did not name Pakistan but said the Chinese government hoped that "foreign governments" would help to arrest the six and hand them over to Beijing.

Militants trained in terrorist camps in Pakistan set fire to a restaurant and randomly killed civilians in Xinjiang's Kashgar in July 2011, leaving six civilians dead and 15 injured.

An investigation found that the group's leaders had learned how to make explosives and firearms in Pakistan before entering Xinjiang.

Xinjiang, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, is home to China's Muslim Uygur ethnic people.

The "East Turkistan Islamic Movement" is still conducting propaganda and attempts to stage terrorist acts, the public security ministry said.

The group is the most direct and real safety threat that China faces, said an official spokesperson.