In a huge embarrassment for Beijing, Afghan security forces have uncovered a 10-member Chinese terror cell in Kabul. The reports of the terror cell aided and operated by the Chinese is a diplomatic setback for China. Besides the terror cell, the recent series of arrests of Chinese spies in Afghanistan have given rise to suspicion of the China-Pakistan nexus to sabotage the Afghan peace talks. The terror cell has been confirmed by Afghanistan diplomats and security officials. An angry Afghanistan has now demanded an apology from the Chinese government.
The Chinese citizens who were part of the module were detained by Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) on charges of espionage and running a terror cell. Two out of the ten caught were in contact with the dreaded Haqqani network, diplomats told in Kabul. Afghan officials have said that they were still trying to ascertain the precise activities of the espionage ring and any possible links to Pakistan and ISI.
One view within the Afghan security establishment is that the detainees were creating a fake East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) module in Afghanistan to entrap ETIM operatives in Afghanistan. ETIM is a small Islamic separatist group alleged to be active in Xinjiang province, home to China’s ethnic minority Uighur Muslims. China had always been using ETIM as an excuse for the persecution of Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang province.
President Ashraf Ghani has been briefed about the detentions and has authorised First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, a former chief of the Afghan intelligence agency, to oversee the investigation and engage the Chinese in view of the sensitivities involved, the people cited in the first instance added, HT reports.
The Chinese administration has reportedly been persuading the Ashraf Ghani government to hush-up the report as the incident will further tarnish their name and draw global suspicion on them. The temerity of the Chinese establishment to run a terror cell in cohorts with the Haqqani network has given rise to doubts about their involvement in the region, especially when the US is on its way out of Afghanistan. The penetration of Chinese will again vitiate the atmosphere which showed signs of recovery post the US-Taliban deal.
This incident has happened at a time when the US is withdrawing its forces following a deal with the Taliban. It indicates the level of impending security troubles that would engulf Afghanistan after the total withdrawal of American troops.
Chinese spies in Afghanistan
Foreign policy experts believe that China has been closely working with Pakistan’s ISI and terror outfits backed by them like the Haqqani network to tackle the American influence. China wishes to take over the big brother role of the US once it exits the region. Besides working with the Haqqani Network, China is also financing the Taliban through Pakistan, believe experts.
Earlier this month, Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) uncovered a dense network of Chinese spies, highlighting activities of the CCP to influence the geopolitical dynamics through presence in the region. Afghan NDS launched a crackdown and arrested a Chinese intelligence operative Li Yangyang, who was operating in the country since July this year. Yangyang was arrested from his Kabul residence. The NDS also recovered arms, ammunition, and explosives, including Ketamine powder from his residence, as per a DNA report.
The Afghan NDS also arrested another Chinese spy, Sha Hung, on the same day from her Shirpur residence in Kabul. During the search operation, explosives and other highly objectionable material were recovered from Hung’s residence.
Further, seven more Chinese spies along with a Thai national were arrested by the NDS. All of the arrested individuals were operating as Chinese spies in Afghanistan. Afghan security forces and people associated with the matter have revealed that Li Yangyang and Sha Hung were kingpins of the espionage network and that both of them had been meeting commanders of Haqqani Network (HQN).
It is believed that Pakistani agency ISI is acting as a mediator between Haqqani Network and the Chinese Intelligence agents.
Besides exposing the Chinese spy network, the series of arrests in Afghanistan has also brought the dark China-Pakistan nexus to light. Besides sabotaging the Afghan peace talk, the nexus also had potentially dire consequences for regional geopolitics and human rights of the Uighur community.
Aayush Pal 
Dr. Niranjan B Poojar 
Bhagyashree Gupta