The US had labeled the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) as a terrorist group but later removed it from its terrorist organization list out of ideological purposes, Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of the Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday.

 

"We are firmly opposed to attacking and discrediting other countries' legitimate counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures under the guise of protecting ethnic minorities and religious freedom," Zhao said at the press briefing.

 

Responding to another question on the Afghan Taliban's counter-terrorism pledges, Zhao urged the Taliban to break off from all terrorist organizations, including the ETIM and take effective actions to firmly crack down on and thoroughly eliminate the ETIM, which, he said, poses direct threats to China's national security and territory integrity.

 

On the current Afghan situation, Zhao said that the conclusion of the US' military intervention in Afghanistan should be the start of the US really taking responsibility, adding that the US is obliged to offer economic and humanitarian aid to Afghans more than any other nation, and help the country retain stability, prevent unrest and adopt a path of sound progress while respecting Afghan sovereignty.

 

Liu said that since the end of the Cold War, the US presence in the Middle East has gone through the process from a peak, to "9/11," to two wars allegedly against terrorism, and finally failure. The US failed its counter-terrorism efforts because it acted out of hegemony, he added.