Unlikely Alliances: Uyghur Voices Supporting India’s Counter-Terrorism Resolve
The successful execution of 'Operation Sindoor' during the 90-hour military confrontation between India and Pakistan from May 7 to 9 (2025) has demonstrated the Indian government's strategic resolve and leadership in the region. This operation was launched in response to the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, in which 25 Hindus and a lone Christian tourist lost their lives, alongside a local Muslim pony operator.
In its retaliatory military campaign, India targeted and dismantled nine terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Among those killed were several relatives and close associates of UN-designated terrorist Masood Azhar, underscoring the targeted nature of India's military response.
This confrontation between two nuclear-armed neighbours once again underscored the fragility of peace in South Asia. Although hostilities ceased following overnight negotiations and international appeals for restraint, including from the UN Security Council, the EU, the UK, and the United States, the durability of any ceasefire remains uncertain. The question persists: When might the next cross-border act of terrorism occur?
For the Uyghur diaspora, this conflict has particular resonance. Kashmir holds deep historical significance for Uyghurs, serving as a pathway to freedom for many fleeing persecution in China. Since the mid-20th century, several waves of Uyghurs and Uzbeks from regions such as Yarkand, Kashgar, and Khotan undertook arduous journeys across the Karakoram mountains, seeking refuge in Jammu & Kashmir. In comparison, many countries in the region offered limited protection. India, despite not being a Muslim-majority nation, provided sanctuary, sustenance, and dignity to displaced East Turkestani refugees. Traces of Uyghur presence from those migrations still endure in the region.
Unfortunately, the oppression of Uyghurs in China has not abated. Conditions have worsened dramatically since the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the expansion of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Despite these developments, Pakistan, while positioning itself as a champion of Muslim causes globally, has continued to maintain strategic alignment with the Chinese state, often endorsing or downplaying Beijing's policies in Xinjiang. Since 2018, Pakistan has taken a leading role in defending China's record on Uyghur issues before global Muslim audiences, including official denials of internment camps and associated human rights abuses.
Most Muslim countries remain silent, continuing their usual business dealings with China. Very few have stood up against the totalitarian regime of China. Pakistan is one of those Muslim nations that consistently aligns with China's interests in South Asia, putting many at risk of future ecological disasters, one of which is water security. China demonstrated during the recent conflict, in which it attempted to cut off the water flow from glaciers into India's territory, following India's announcement of its plan to withdraw from the 1960 Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. At the same time, Pakistan had relied on China's military and diplomatic aid. It endeavoured to exploit China's misinformation propaganda machine in the digital realm in every possible way until the Fact Check divisions of the Indian Embassy in Beijing challenged China's claims about Pakistan's 'victory'.
India, as a rising democratic power in Asia, has demonstrated a principled willingness to listen to and engage with the Uyghur community. By standing up to terrorism and resisting authoritarian pressure, India has earned respect not just from within the region but also from those who seek justice and freedom beyond its borders.
The recent conflict has further illustrated the strategic convergence between China and Pakistan, particularly in digital propaganda and regional destabilisation. Allegations that China sought to obstruct glacier-fed water flows into India following its proposed withdrawal from the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, and Pakistan's concurrent military actions with diplomatic support from Beijing, reflect broader risks to regional ecological and security stability. India's rebuttal of such disinformation campaigns, including through its embassy in Beijing, has been timely and necessary.
India's actions during and after 'Operation Sindoor' have renewed Uyghurs' confidence worldwide. We therefore express our solidarity with the people, armed forces, and government of India. We commend India's commitment to national sovereignty, counter-terrorism, and regional stability. At the same time, we urge all nations, especially those that invoke principles of justice and faith, to take a principled stand against terrorism and repression in all its forms.
As a community that has long faced injustice and persecution, we Uyghurs comprehend the profound significance of national security, the defence of territorial integrity, and the right of all people to live in peace. We commend India's commitment to these principles and recognise the nation's efforts to maintain stability in South Asia. The Uyghur community remains committed to fostering friendship, cooperation, and mutual respect with the people of India.