IS-K and Jihadis Raise Calls in Support of Uyghurs
Calls for Jihad against China have resurfaced in the Jihadist world. As Taliban strives to gain brownie points in the good books of the Chinese, the Islamic Khorasan (IS-K) and various jihadi affiliates have called for a jihad on China. These calls for jihad came to light, owing to the Chinese government`s treatment of the Uyghurs and Muslims in the Xingjian Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China.
This became even more apparent, when IS-K claimed responsibility for series of attacks, such as the one on a Shia Mosque in Kunduz province on October 8th and second on Bibi Fatima Mosque in Kandahar on October 15th. Both attacks were publicly claimed by IS-K. In the wake of such attacks, IS-K called for “Jihad against China” and declared war on Taliban.
Apart from the growing rivalry between IS-K and Taliban over each other’s dominance in the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia, IS-K views Taliban as a traitor to Islam. IS-K believes the Taliban to be a Chinese appeaser rather than a fighter of Islam. This aggression against Taliban, also stems from Taliban`s supposed willingness to deport the Uyghurs from Afghanistan to China, upon the request of the latter. The IS-K supports the Uyghur fighters and also provides safe havens to them. It’s expected that Taliban`s courteousness to China will be received with disapproval of the jihadi affiliates in the region.
The most important factor derived from the recent IS-K orchestrated attacks is that the IS modus operandi has shifted. It has employed a hands-on stance against China compared to its previous not so provocative approach.
Following the Kunduz attack, ISK confirmed the mobilization of Uyghurs. This was the first time when the alliance between IS-K and Uyghurs was affirmed by IS-K on all media platforms. Previously, the Uyghurs were used as anonymous entities in both physical and propaganda warfare by the IS-K. The current proclamation by IS-K, has marked a foreseeable and an imminent threat towards China.
The Kunduz attack by itself pronounced IS-K’s intention at creating a wedge between China and the Taliban. The Kunduz attack came at a critical juncture, when China called for Taliban to sever its ties with Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP). TIP has served as a close ally of Taliban and performed most activities under the guidance and approval of the Taliban. After the capture of Kabul, TIP lauded Taliban`s victory and called it “the restoration of Islamic Emirate”. While TIP may share strong allegiance towards Taliban, its resentment towards China cannot be dispelled. After exiting the war theatre, Taliban has been struggling with setting a working administrative, economic and political structure, while still focussing on how it wants to balance its narratives and beliefs socially. In order to be recognized as a legitimate Afghan state under the Taliban rule, the approval and nods of various surrounding nations is imperative for the Taliban.
Taliban now faces the challenge of appeasing nations like China, on whom it first declared war versus the loyalist jihadi groups, who fought beside them for years against nations like China. The displacements of the Chinese Muslim citizens, their killings and also the concentration camps for Uyghur for the so called “rehabilitation against jihadism” conducted by China, spells top priority on the list of most jihadists (who view themselves as saviours of Islam). So, any alliance with China is regarded by the jihadists as “bloodying” of one`s own hands with the blood of their people.
The possible re-emergence of TIP, therefore also becomes a security concern for China and especially when IS-K and AL Qaeda have declared Jihad on China.
In the light of such development, in the IS propaganda magazine “Voice of Hind”, IS-K has asked to avenge the deaths and treatments of all Muslims, who they believe have been murdered, tortured and sexually exploited by the Chinese. By doing so, they believe “to put the light of Islam in China”.
The Jihadist spider spins its web around China
For years the Islamic State has tried to use Afghanistan as a spring board to launch its own Jihad in the region. The current circumstances provide a perfect opportunity to monopolize and expand the jihad in the Indian subcontinent and in areas surrounding Afghanistan. By becoming the de-facto voice of Uyghurs, the ISK hopes to be the voice of Jihad in Central Asia.
Having a concurring view with the world in regards to the treatment meted out to the Chinese Muslims by Beijing, the IS-K has managed to strengthen its image as a saviour in some jihadist circles with apparent loss of face for China.
In July 2014, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, named China “first” amongst the 20 listed countries to wage Jihad on and as a location to establish the caliphate. The focus was on the “extreme torture and degradation of Muslims in East Turkmenistan” (Xingjian province in China). This was followed with propaganda videos, audios and print materials in support of the Uyghurs by the Isis Central (parent body of IS).
In 2014, following Baghdadi’s call for jihad on China, Al Qaeda also declared war on China. In its magazine “Resurgence”, it critically outlined China`s Uyghur policies.
With the Jihadist world gaining momentum to wage Jihad on China, the pressure to recruit the locals and fighters from Central Asia became a priority. Since then, IS- Central and Islamic state Khorasan (IS-K) have both simultaneously tried to recruit Asian fighters from Central Asia. Over the years, several Chinese jihadists have joined the ranks of IS in Syria, while some were also invited to coalesce with IS. While the IS central were initially focused on negotiating with ETIM, the Huis who itched for mobilization of Hui insurgency in China also aligned with IS-K. IS used this opportunity to establish an ad-hoc group – The Gansu Hui Group.
The founder of the Gansu Hui, Abu Abdul Ali Turkistani travelled to Pakistan to form a new group, which was tasked with recruiting Chinese Muslims. The Gansu Hui group, though not recognized as the “component” IS group, was eventually acknowledged under ISK by the parent IS central. Despite being called Gansu Hui group; it doesn’t field a majority of Gansu members and compliments a large number of Uyghurs. The group since its conception has brokered many negotiations and talks with the Chinese Muslims, ETIM, IJU and IMU and also Al Qaeda. An intricate yet a complex web of a jihadist network was spun with in and around China. By 2014, the Afghan authorities had already identified IS as a threat, however no efforts were made by China to participate actively with the Anti-ISIS Afghan authorities or the US led coalition forces. This catered to more jihadi affiliates associating without joining or being consolidated within IS such as Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), Jamaat Ansarullah (Tajikistan), Islamic Jihadi Union (IJU), Islamic Movement of Turkmenistan (IMT), East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement 9ETIM), Harkat Islami Tajikistan and Islamic Jihad Renaissance party of Tajikistan (IJRPT)
During this phase, many outfits such as IJRPT strengthened their ties with IS, while AQ was clearly side-lined. By 2016, IS-K had a major influence in the decision making of IJRPT and had doubled its funding to the outfit compared to IMU, who was also funding IJRPT. It was safe to assume, IJRPT functioned like an auxiliary branch for ISK.
In the following years, IMU also forged an alliance with IS. Prior to the official announcement made by its leader, Osman Ghazi in 2015, IMU had already started supporting IS-K while it continued to receive funding from Al Qaeda. It avoided most Taliban propagandas and even refused to openly raise the issue of disappearance of Mullah Omar (co-founder of Taliban) in 2011.
It is apparent, the declining credibility of Taliban can also be linked to the lack of confidence which most groups felt in regards to the Taliban`s Quetta Shura. The leader of the Quetta Shura was far from present and the orders received by the outfits came from the Peshawar Shura and Miran Miah Shura. This reduced the influence of the Quetta Shura, whose workings presented to be unreliable, eventually losing the jihadi faith in the workings of Taliban. As a result, most jihadi networks aligned themselves with the IS-K.
Importantly, Taliban suggesting the ban of outfits like IMU also triggered many jihadist outfits, especially IS-K who shares strong alliance with IMU.
However as of 2017, IMU splintered off, the Osman Ghazi group was absorbed by IS-K, while the mainstream IMU partially merged with IS-K and there were also others who have remained pro Al Qaeda and served Al Qaeda interests. Despite the developments, it is reported that IS-K managed to increase in cadre as of August 15th following the US exit from Afghanistan. Many fighters from Taliban, owing to the reasons mentioned above and the soldiers from Afghan forces, who remained unemployed and left to be hunted by Taliban are seen seeking employment with IS-K. This provides a great threat.
A militarily trained soldier or an intelligence officer with an acumen for waging warfare in the Afghan topography, will provide a strong resistance against any security force combatting terrorism in this region.
Many Islamic nations, who are assumed to covertly fund and train fighters for jihad are also using their stature to keep the power play going against China, regardless of the repercussions on the Afghan soil.
Over the years, China has blamed Turkey for having done nothing to prevent the resupply of fighters to ISIS and for aiding the Chinese Uyghurs to transit into Syria and Iraq to train with the Al Qaeda, ISIS and other Jihadi Affiliates.
Beijing believes, Turkey has its links with the East Turkestan Movement (ETIM) and East Turkestan Education and Solidarity Association and for the terror attacks on the Chinese.
Jacob Zenn, a counter terrorism expert also pointed the Turkish Links to the Uyghur terrorism group called Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP), which is known to run its network in Istanbul for recruitment of the Chinese Islamic fighters against China.
Despite all the allegations against Turkey, its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan displayed a shocking attitude recently.
Erdogan is known to have a staunch stand against the mistreatment of Muslims and the rise of Islamophobia. In the view of the anti-China protesting Uighur community in Turkey, the Turkish President remained silent on the atrocities inflicted on the Uyghurs by China.
In the past, Erdogan gained fame for lambasting the west for its insensitivity to the Muslims, the current change of heart seemed to have baffled some. It appears, the Turkish president`s voice of reason like many remains selective when it affects the geopolitical and economic interests of Turkey, especially in the face of the Chinese fury. This incident has raised many questions in regards to Erdogan ‘s loyalty to the Muslim populous versus his boot licking attitude towards China.
It is evident, all central Asian groups have been drawn to ISIS`s commitment to Jihad. As long as AQ also continues to fund some outfits, the output would heavily be determined based on priority, while postponing the Jihad in Central Asia to some extent. But this may be debatable in recent future, given how fastidiously and quickly outfits like IS-K has been progressing with many donors queued to finance it. As for China, the jihadi spider has spared no effort in weaving its threads to against China.
It remains yet to be seen how China will actively participate in the “war on terror” or continue to fund and support nations like Pakistan who are the terror factories of such jihadist designs.
