According to a Reuters report, a faction of the Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility earlier today (March 1) for the murder of a Chinese university student this week in Peshawar, saying it was in revenge for China’s killing of Muslims in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
Murdered on Tuesday (February 28), Chinese national Hua Jiang, 40, and Suleman Shams, 22, a Pakistani translator, were shot and killed when the assailant approached them at close range. Only three rounds were fired at the two, suggesting that the shooter was a skilled marksman. No arrests have been made.
COMMENT: Muhammad Afridi, a spokesman for a faction of the Pakistani Taliban from the Darra Adam Khel area told Reuters by telephone that the Taliban carried out the attack.
Additionally, China accused the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), of carrying out attacks in China and said it had broken up training camps for men seeking independence for China's predominantly Muslim Xinjiang region.
The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad also called on the Pakistani government to promptly investigate the attack.
At the moment there is no apparent evidence that the ETIM was behind the attack nor even Pakistan's Taliban. While either group could potentially be involved, allegations and claims of responsibility are only that until such time as a clear motive is corroborated.
Murdered on Tuesday (February 28), Chinese national Hua Jiang, 40, and Suleman Shams, 22, a Pakistani translator, were shot and killed when the assailant approached them at close range. Only three rounds were fired at the two, suggesting that the shooter was a skilled marksman. No arrests have been made.
COMMENT: Muhammad Afridi, a spokesman for a faction of the Pakistani Taliban from the Darra Adam Khel area told Reuters by telephone that the Taliban carried out the attack.
Additionally, China accused the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), of carrying out attacks in China and said it had broken up training camps for men seeking independence for China's predominantly Muslim Xinjiang region.
The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad also called on the Pakistani government to promptly investigate the attack.
At the moment there is no apparent evidence that the ETIM was behind the attack nor even Pakistan's Taliban. While either group could potentially be involved, allegations and claims of responsibility are only that until such time as a clear motive is corroborated.
