Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, continues to respond with a dead bat to practically every criticism of one of his country's closest partners, China.

In an interview with Axios's Jonathan Swan last week, the cricketer-turned-politician deftly avoided criticising China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

When asked about human rights violations in Xinjiang, Khan responded that "this is not the situation".&nbsp;

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/jonathanvswan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jonathanvswan</a> presses Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on why he’s outspoken against Islamophobia in the West but silent about the genocide of Muslim Uyghurs in western China. 
 
Khan: I concentrate on what is happening on my border. 
 
Swan: This is on your border. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AxiosOnHBO?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AxiosOnHBO</a> <a href="https://t.co/QdLfY1qXGL">pic.twitter.com/QdLfY1qXGL</a>
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Khan went on to say that he doesn't comment on what's going on in other countries because he's more concerned with what's going on in his own nation and along his border, before adding that the situation in Kashmir is "far more relevant" than what's going on with the Uyghurs.&nbsp; 
 
Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: China's Treatment Of Uighurs: Imran Khan Still Plays Ignorant

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-chinas-treatment-of-uighurs-imran-khan-still-plays-ignorant-254837/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Imran Khan has long aspired to be one of the Muslim world's most recognised leaders. He has been leading a public fight in the West, particularly in Europe, against Islamophobia. Khan gave a stunning statement at the United Nations against Islamophobia and published an open letter inviting other Muslim leaders to join him in his battle.&nbsp;

Despite his efforts on behalf of the Muslim world, he has been completely silent on China's imprisonment of over a million Uyghur Muslim minorities.

This confinement is part of China's policy of forced assimilation, forced labour, and sterilisation, which the United States and numerous Western countries have labelled genocide.&nbsp;

In an interview with a TV channel in 2019, calling China as Pakistan's "best friend", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had said he doesn't know much about the situation of persecuted Uyghurs Muslims in China.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dont-know-much-about-imran-khan-on-situation-of-uighurs-muslims-in-china-249715">Also read | 'Don't know much about': Imran Khan on the situation of Uighurs Muslims in China</a>

China has often been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Up to 2 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to have been placed in mass detention centres in the region, according to the US State Department. These people have allegedly been subject to indoctrination and abuse.

Beijing, however, claims that these centres are voluntary and provide vocational training as part of a de-radicalisation programme in Xinjiang.

Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, continues to respond with a dead bat to practically every criticism of one of his country's closest partners, China. In an interview with Axios's Jonathan Swan last week, the cricketer-turned-politician deftly avoided criticising China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, continues to respond with a dead bat to practically every criticism of one of his country's closest partners, China. In an interview with Axios's Jonathan Swan last week, the cricketer-turned-politician deftly avoided criticising China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region. When asked about human rights violations in Xinjiang, Khan responded that "this is not the situation". .@jonathanvswan presses Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on why he’s outspoken against Islamophobia in the West but silent about the genocide of Muslim Uyghurs in western China. Khan: I concentrate on what is happening on my border. Swan: This is on your border. #AxiosOnHBO pic.twitter.com/QdLfY1qXGL — Axios (@axios) June 20, 2021 × Khan went on to say that he doesn't comment on what's going on in other countries because he's more concerned with what's going on in his own nation and along his border, before adding that the situation in Kashmir is "far more relevant" than what's going on with the Uyghurs. Watch | Gravitas: China's Treatment Of Uighurs: Imran Khan Still Plays Ignorant Imran Khan has long aspired to be one of the Muslim world's most recognised leaders. He has been leading a public fight in the West, particularly in Europe, against Islamophobia. Khan gave a stunning statement at the United Nations against Islamophobia and published an open letter inviting other Muslim leaders to join him in his battle. Despite his efforts on behalf of the Muslim world, he has been completely silent on China's imprisonment of over a million Uyghur Muslim minorities. This confinement is part of China's policy of forced assimilation, forced labour, and sterilisation, which the United States and numerous Western countries have labelled genocide. In an interview with a TV channel in 2019, calling China as Pakistan's "best friend", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had said he doesn't know much about the situation of persecuted Uyghurs Muslims in China. Also read | 'Don't know much about': Imran Khan on the situation of Uighurs Muslims in China China has often been accused of widespread human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Up to 2 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to have been placed in mass detention centres in the region, according to the US State Department. These people have allegedly been subject to indoctrination and abuse. Beijing, however, claims that these centres are voluntary and provide vocational training as part of a de-radicalisation programme in Xinjiang.

Watch: Pakistan PM refuses to criticise China’s Uyghur abuse after decrying Islamophobia elsewhere

China&nbsp;on Tuesday dismissed Pope Francis's criticism of Muslim Uighurs in the country as a “persecuted” community, calling the charges&nbsp;groundless.

In a new book titled “Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future”, Francis also urged world governments to set up a universal minimum wage, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19. The book includes a 150-page collaboration with Austen Ivereigh, Pope’s English language biographer.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pope-francis-refers-to-uighur-muslims-as-a-persecuted-group-for-the-first-time-345000">Pope Francis refers to Uighur Muslims as 'persecuted' group for the first time</a>

It is the first time Pope Francis&nbsp;has&nbsp;called China's Uighurs a persecuted people, something human rights activists have been urging him to do for years.

China claims that the camps are education centres and are part of the country’s deradicalisation efforts. Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian rejected his characterisation of the Uighurs.

"The Chinese government has always protected the legal rights of ethnic minorities equally," he told a media briefing.

''People of all ethnicities in Xinjiang enjoy the full protection of their subsistence rights, developmental rights, and religious freedom.&nbsp;The remarks by Pope Francis are groundless,"&nbsp;Zhao said.

&nbsp;While the pope has spoken out before about the Rohingya who has fled Myanmar and the killing of Yazidi by Islamic State in Iraq, it was the first time he mentioned the Uighurs.

Faith leaders, activist groups, and governments have said crimes against humanity and genocide are taking place against Uighurs in China's Xinjiang region, where more than 1 million people are held in camps.

Beijing has rejected the allegations as an attempt to discredit China, saying the camps are vocational education and training centres as part of counter-terrorism and deradicalisation measures.

Many commentators have said the Vatican was reluctant to speak out on the Uighurs earlier because it was in the process of renewing an accord with Beijing on the appointment of bishops. It was renewed in September.

China on Tuesday dismissed Pope Francis's criticism of Muslim Uighurs in the country as a “persecuted” community, calling the charges groundless. In a new book titled “Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future”, Francis also urged world governments to set up a universal minimum wage, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19.

China on Tuesday dismissed Pope Francis's criticism of Muslim Uighurs in the country as a “persecuted” community, calling the charges groundless. In a new book titled “Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future”, Francis also urged world governments to set up a universal minimum wage, especially in the aftermath of COVID-19. The book includes a 150-page collaboration with Austen Ivereigh, Pope’s English language biographer. Also read: Pope Francis refers to Uighur Muslims as 'persecuted' group for the first time It is the first time Pope Francis has called China's Uighurs a persecuted people, something human rights activists have been urging him to do for years. China claims that the camps are education centres and are part of the country’s deradicalisation efforts. Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian rejected his characterisation of the Uighurs. "The Chinese government has always protected the legal rights of ethnic minorities equally," he told a media briefing. ''People of all ethnicities in Xinjiang enjoy the full protection of their subsistence rights, developmental rights, and religious freedom. The remarks by Pope Francis are groundless," Zhao said. While the pope has spoken out before about the Rohingya who has fled Myanmar and the killing of Yazidi by Islamic State in Iraq, it was the first time he mentioned the Uighurs. Faith leaders, activist groups, and governments have said crimes against humanity and genocide are taking place against Uighurs in China's Xinjiang region, where more than 1 million people are held in camps. Beijing has rejected the allegations as an attempt to discredit China, saying the camps are vocational education and training centres as part of counter-terrorism and deradicalisation measures. Many commentators have said the Vatican was reluctant to speak out on the Uighurs earlier because it was in the process of renewing an accord with Beijing on the appointment of bishops. It was renewed in September.

China calls Pope Francis' remarks on 'persecuted' Uighurs 'groundless'

As many as 872 employees of the Central Railway and Western Railway, their family members and retired personnel have so far tested positive for coronavirus and 86 of them have died, officials said.

All of them were admitted to the Western Railways Jagjivan Ram Hospital here which was in April declared as a facility to treat COVID-19 patients, they said.

Of the total cases, 559 were reported from the Central Railway and 313 from the Western Railway, officials said.

Out of the 86 patients who died of COVID-19, 22 were existing railway employees (14 of the Central Railway and eight of the Western Railway) and the others included their family members and retired personnel.

As of now, 132 railway employees, besides their family members and retired personnel, are undergoing treatment at the hospital, officials said.

Currently, some special trains, goods trains and 700 local train services with limited number of passengers are being operated here by both the Central Railway and Western Railway.

Some railway unions claimed that since the resumption of local train services from June 15, there has been a rise in COVID-19 cases among railway employees.

"The state government allowed only 15 to 30 per cent attendance in offices, but in the railways nearly 100 per cent field staff personnel are working since the resumption of suburban train services, National RailwayMazdoor Union president Venu Nair said.

The zonal railways, however, said there is no connection between the rise in COVID-19 cases and resumption of services.

Central Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer Shivaji Sutar said they are taking utmost care to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among railway personnel and passengers.

"We are taking every possible step for the safety of railway employees and passengers and ensuring social distancing. We are providing masks, sanitisers and all other safety equipment to our employees," he said.

After the outbreak of COVID-19, the Central Railway launched a 'Rail Parivar Dekhrekh' drive to ensure the safety of the railway employees, he added.

The Western Railway's Mumbai division DRM did not respond to queries on this.

As many as 872 employees of the Central Railway and Western Railway, their family members and retired personnel have so far tested positive for coronavirus and 86 of them have died, officials said.

As many as 872 employees of the Central Railway and Western Railway, their family members and retired personnel have so far tested positive for coronavirus and 86 of them have died, officials said. All of them were admitted to the Western Railways Jagjivan Ram Hospital here which was in April declared as a facility to treat COVID-19 patients, they said. Of the total cases, 559 were reported from the Central Railway and 313 from the Western Railway, officials said. Out of the 86 patients who died of COVID-19, 22 were existing railway employees (14 of the Central Railway and eight of the Western Railway) and the others included their family members and retired personnel. As of now, 132 railway employees, besides their family members and retired personnel, are undergoing treatment at the hospital, officials said. Currently, some special trains, goods trains and 700 local train services with limited number of passengers are being operated here by both the Central Railway and Western Railway. Some railway unions claimed that since the resumption of local train services from June 15, there has been a rise in COVID-19 cases among railway employees. "The state government allowed only 15 to 30 per cent attendance in offices, but in the railways nearly 100 per cent field staff personnel are working since the resumption of suburban train services, National RailwayMazdoor Union president Venu Nair said. The zonal railways, however, said there is no connection between the rise in COVID-19 cases and resumption of services. Central Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer Shivaji Sutar said they are taking utmost care to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among railway personnel and passengers. "We are taking every possible step for the safety of railway employees and passengers and ensuring social distancing. We are providing masks, sanitisers and all other safety equipment to our employees," he said. After the outbreak of COVID-19, the Central Railway launched a 'Rail Parivar Dekhrekh' drive to ensure the safety of the railway employees, he added. The Western Railway's Mumbai division DRM did not respond to queries on this.

Exiled Uighurs approach ICC for seeking justice against Chinese 'genocide'

Thousands of Muslims from China's Uighur minority group are working under coercive conditions at factories that supply some of the world's biggest brands, as per a new report.

According to the think tank of Canberra-based Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), at least 80,000 Uighurs have been transferred from Xinjiang province, some of them directly from detention centres, to factories across China that make goods for dozens of global brands in 2017 and 2018.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-china-detains-uighurs-muslims-for-keeping-beards-veils-and-internet-browsing-281286">Leaked data says China detained Uighur muslims for beards, veils and internet browsing</a>

Using open-source public documents, satellite imagery, and media reports, the institute identified 27 factories in nine Chinese provinces that have used labourers transferred from re-education centres in Xinjiang since 2017 as part of a programme known as “Xinjiang aid”.

ASPI said the Uighurs were moved through labour transfer schemes operating under a central government policy known as Xinjiang Aid.

Watch: The 'Karakax' list exposes how China Targets Uighur Muslims

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/the-karakax-list-exposes-how-china-targets-uighur-muslims-281614/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to the report, the factories claim to be part of the supply chain for 83 well-known global brands, including Nike, Apple, Volkswagen, Dell among others.

In conditions that “strongly suggest forced labour”, the report says, workers live in segregated dormitories, are required to study Mandarin and undergo ideological training.&nbsp;

They are frequently subjected to surveillance and barred from observing religious practices.&nbsp;

Reports leaked last month suggested that China detained Muslim minority Uighurs for beards, wearing veils, visiting foreign countries and having "too many" children websites.

Thousands of Muslims from China's Uighur minority group are working under coercive conditions at factories that supply some of the world's biggest brands, as per a new report.

Thousands of Muslims from China's Uighur minority group are working under coercive conditions at factories that supply some of the world's biggest brands, as per a new report. According to the think tank of Canberra-based Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), at least 80,000 Uighurs have been transferred from Xinjiang province, some of them directly from detention centres, to factories across China that make goods for dozens of global brands in 2017 and 2018. Also read: Leaked data says China detained Uighur muslims for beards, veils and internet browsing Using open-source public documents, satellite imagery, and media reports, the institute identified 27 factories in nine Chinese provinces that have used labourers transferred from re-education centres in Xinjiang since 2017 as part of a programme known as “Xinjiang aid”. ASPI said the Uighurs were moved through labour transfer schemes operating under a central government policy known as Xinjiang Aid. Watch: The 'Karakax' list exposes how China Targets Uighur Muslims According to the report, the factories claim to be part of the supply chain for 83 well-known global brands, including Nike, Apple, Volkswagen, Dell among others. In conditions that “strongly suggest forced labour”, the report says, workers live in segregated dormitories, are required to study Mandarin and undergo ideological training. They are frequently subjected to surveillance and barred from observing religious practices. Reports leaked last month suggested that China detained Muslim minority Uighurs for beards, wearing veils, visiting foreign countries and having "too many" children websites.

Detained Uighurs forced to work in factories for foreign brands

After the Chinese foreign ministry said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mesut-ozil-deceived-by-fake-news-will-be-pleased-to-see-him-go-to-xinjiang-china-268547">Arsenal football player Mesut</a> Ozil's "judgment was influenced by untruthful remarks" over the persecution of Muslims in Xinjiang province, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China cannot hide its "gross human rights violations perpetrated against Uighurs."

On Monday, China's foreign ministry spokesman had said that the Arsenal player was "deceived by fake news" on Xinjiang province while declaring that the country would be "pleased to see him going to Xinjiang and having a look".

In a social post which went viral on social media, the German football star had that in "east Turkistan, the bleeding wound of the Ummah, resisting against the persecutors trying to separate them from their religion. They burn their Qurans. They shut down their mosques. They ban their schools. They kill their holy men. The men are forced into camps and their families are forced to live with Chinese men."

"The women are forced to marry Chinese men."

"But Muslims are silent. They won’t make a noise. They have abandoned them. Don’t they know that giving consent for persecution is persecution itself?"

After Ozil's comments, China's state broadcaster CCTV had taken&nbsp;off the Manchester City vs Arsenal Premier League game from its programming.

US secretary of state today in his Twitter post said that "China’s Communist Party propaganda outlets can censor Mesut Ozil and Arsenal games all season long, but the truth will prevail," adding, "The CCP can’t hide its gross human rights violations perpetrated against Uighurs and other religious faiths from the world."

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China’s Communist Party propaganda outlets can censor <a href="https://twitter.com/MesutOzil1088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MesutOzil1088</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Arsenal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Arsenal</a>’s games all season long, but the truth will prevail. The CCP can’t hide its gross <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HumanRights?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HumanRights</a> violations perpetrated against Uighurs and other religious faiths from the world.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1206953951653969921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The United States and China have openly clashed over Beijing's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority. Earlier this month, the US House of Representatives had passed a bill requiring the US president to condemn abuses against Muslims even as it called for the closure of the camps in Xinjiang.

The Uighur bill was passed 407-1 in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. The bill also mandated the US president to impose sanctions on a member of China's politburo Xinjiang Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo.

After the Chinese foreign ministry said Arsenal football player Mesut Ozil's "judgment was influenced by untruthful remarks" over the persecution of Muslims in Xinjiang province, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China cannot hide its "gross human rights violations perpetrated against Uighurs.

After the Chinese foreign ministry said Arsenal football player Mesut Ozil's "judgment was influenced by untruthful remarks" over the persecution of Muslims in Xinjiang province, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China cannot hide its "gross human rights violations perpetrated against Uighurs." On Monday, China's foreign ministry spokesman had said that the Arsenal player was "deceived by fake news" on Xinjiang province while declaring that the country would be "pleased to see him going to Xinjiang and having a look". In a social post which went viral on social media, the German football star had that in "east Turkistan, the bleeding wound of the Ummah, resisting against the persecutors trying to separate them from their religion. They burn their Qurans. They shut down their mosques. They ban their schools. They kill their holy men. The men are forced into camps and their families are forced to live with Chinese men." "The women are forced to marry Chinese men." "But Muslims are silent. They won’t make a noise. They have abandoned them. Don’t they know that giving consent for persecution is persecution itself?" After Ozil's comments, China's state broadcaster CCTV had taken off the Manchester City vs Arsenal Premier League game from its programming. US secretary of state today in his Twitter post said that "China’s Communist Party propaganda outlets can censor Mesut Ozil and Arsenal games all season long, but the truth will prevail," adding, "The CCP can’t hide its gross human rights violations perpetrated against Uighurs and other religious faiths from the world." China’s Communist Party propaganda outlets can censor @MesutOzil1088 and @Arsenal’s games all season long, but the truth will prevail. The CCP can’t hide its gross #HumanRights violations perpetrated against Uighurs and other religious faiths from the world. — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 17, 2019 × The United States and China have openly clashed over Beijing's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority. Earlier this month, the US House of Representatives had passed a bill requiring the US president to condemn abuses against Muslims even as it called for the closure of the camps in Xinjiang. The Uighur bill was passed 407-1 in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. The bill also mandated the US president to impose sanctions on a member of China's politburo Xinjiang Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo.

China can censor Ozil but cannot hide human rights violations against Uighurs: Pompeo

China on Monday vowed it would "never be soft" in its crackdown in Xinjiang, after a massive leak of government documents shed new light on the mass detention of Muslims in the far-west region.

Over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leaked-chinese-government-documents-show-details-of-xinjiang-clampdown-report-262676">400 pages of internal papers obtained by the New York Times</a> showed that President Xi Jinping ordered officials to act with "absolutely no mercy" against separatism and extremism in Xinjiang.

The documents, leaked by an unnamed official, included unpublished speeches by Xi as well as directives on the surveillance and control of the Uighur minority, the newspaper reported on Saturday.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Monday accused the Times of "turning a blind eye to the facts" while "taking meaning out of context to publicise so-called internal documents, slander and smear counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation efforts in Xinjiang".

"China will never be soft in its fight against violent terrorists," Geng said at a regular press briefing.

Human rights groups and outside experts say more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been rounded up in a network of internment camps across the fractious region.

China, after initially denying the camps existed, describes them as vocational schools aimed at dampening the allure of Islamist extremism and violence through education and job training.

Geng said that "thousands of violent terrorist incidents occurred in Xinjiang" between the 1990s and 2016, but current policies had prevented any attacks in the past three years.

"The leaked papers clearly reveal and confirm what has been going on in Xinjiang with regard to the all-out suppression and control of the non-Han peoples there (and elsewhere in China), including the massive detention and forced education camps," Fei-Ling Wang, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, told AFP.

At the same time, Wang said the leak showed the Chinese Communist Party is "not nearly as monolithic as the Party pretends".

The Times said the papers were leaked by a member of the Chinese political establishment who requested anonymity and expressed hope that the disclosure would prevent the leadership, including Xi, from "escaping culpability" for the mass detentions.

The documents included the confession of one local official, Wang Yongzhi, who was punished for releasing more than 7,000 people from camps in Xinjiang.

Wang feared that "rounding up so many people would knowingly fan conflict and deepen resentment", the Times reported.

Geng said at his briefing Monday that "officials and members of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang fully support" the government's policies in the region.

China on Monday vowed it would "never be soft" in its crackdown in Xinjiang, after a massive leak of government documents shed new light on the mass detention of Muslims in the far-west region.

China on Monday vowed it would "never be soft" in its crackdown in Xinjiang, after a massive leak of government documents shed new light on the mass detention of Muslims in the far-west region. Over 400 pages of internal papers obtained by the New York Times showed that President Xi Jinping ordered officials to act with "absolutely no mercy" against separatism and extremism in Xinjiang. The documents, leaked by an unnamed official, included unpublished speeches by Xi as well as directives on the surveillance and control of the Uighur minority, the newspaper reported on Saturday. China's foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Monday accused the Times of "turning a blind eye to the facts" while "taking meaning out of context to publicise so-called internal documents, slander and smear counter-terrorism and de-radicalisation efforts in Xinjiang". "China will never be soft in its fight against violent terrorists," Geng said at a regular press briefing. Human rights groups and outside experts say more than one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim minorities have been rounded up in a network of internment camps across the fractious region. China, after initially denying the camps existed, describes them as vocational schools aimed at dampening the allure of Islamist extremism and violence through education and job training. Geng said that "thousands of violent terrorist incidents occurred in Xinjiang" between the 1990s and 2016, but current policies had prevented any attacks in the past three years. "The leaked papers clearly reveal and confirm what has been going on in Xinjiang with regard to the all-out suppression and control of the non-Han peoples there (and elsewhere in China), including the massive detention and forced education camps," Fei-Ling Wang, a professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, told AFP. At the same time, Wang said the leak showed the Chinese Communist Party is "not nearly as monolithic as the Party pretends". The Times said the papers were leaked by a member of the Chinese political establishment who requested anonymity and expressed hope that the disclosure would prevent the leadership, including Xi, from "escaping culpability" for the mass detentions. The documents included the confession of one local official, Wang Yongzhi, who was punished for releasing more than 7,000 people from camps in Xinjiang. Wang feared that "rounding up so many people would knowingly fan conflict and deepen resentment", the Times reported. Geng said at his briefing Monday that "officials and members of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang fully support" the government's policies in the region.

Won't be soft in fight against 'violent terrorists': China defends Xinjiang crackdown after massive document leak

US asks Pakistan: Why ignore Uighurs muslims? Watch video to know more.

US asks Pakistan: Why ignore Uighurs muslims?

A day in the life of China’s persecuted Uighur community

The United States will co-host an event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on China's treatment of Muslim minorities including ethnic Uighurs, the US State Department said in a statement on Monday.

The United States will co-host an event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on China's treatment of Muslim minorities including ethnic Uighurs, the US State Department said in a statement on Monday. The event on Tuesday will be hosted by US Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan and will feature personal stories of victims, the statement said. It did not identify other hosts. "China’s repression campaign includes, among other abuses, the mass detention of more than one million individuals in internment camps since April 2017," the State Department said. UN experts and activists say at least 1 million Uighurs and members of other largely Muslim minority groups have been detained in camps in the remote Xinjiang region. Beijing describes complexes in Xinjiang as "vocational training centres" helping to stamp out extremism and give people new skills. Washington has been weighing how to confront China on the issue at the annual gathering of world leaders in New York this week. On Sunday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged all countries in the world to resist China's demands to repatriate Uighurs. Pompeo said Beijing's campaign in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang was an "attempt to erase its own citizens." Pompeo and US Vice President Mike Pence could also address China's treatment of the Uighurs at events this week, but a final decision on any US remarks "is expected to hinge on how the trade issue is going," an administration official said last week. China and the United States are fighting a trade war and are set to resume trade talks in October.

US to co-host event at United Nations on China's treatment of Uighurs

Calling China as Pakistan's "best friend", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said he doesn't know much about the situation of persecuted Uighurs Muslims in China.&nbsp;

Many western governments have asserted that Uighurs are been systemically targeted by China and being sent to reeducation camps.&nbsp;

In an interview to Al Jazeera, as part of global media outreach about the prevailing situation on Kashmir, Khan said "frankly we have been facing so many of our internal problems right now that I don't know much about the problem"

Adding, "I would like to say but I will say one thing about China, for us China has been the best friend "

Imran Khan who has been generally speaking about problems facing the Muslim all over the world, has been silent on the issue in China's north-western Xinjiang were most of the Uighurs are present.

The comments come amidst a rally in Pakistani occupied Kashmir on Friday were he said Muslims are been persecuted in Kashmir by India and called on the world to speak on the issue.

This is the second time Imran Khan has claimed no knowledge of the situation of Uighur Muslims in China.&nbsp;

In an interview to Financial Times earlier this year, he said, "Frankly, I don't know much about that..if I had enough knowledge I would speak about it, it is not so much in the newspapers".

Interestingly, in July this year, many Islamic countries including Pakistan wrote a letter praising China's policies in Xinjiang.

Calling China as Pakistan's "best friend", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said he doesn't know much about the situation of persecuted Uighurs Muslims in China.

Calling China as Pakistan's "best friend", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said he doesn't know much about the situation of persecuted Uighurs Muslims in China. Many western governments have asserted that Uighurs are been systemically targeted by China and being sent to reeducation camps. In an interview to Al Jazeera, as part of global media outreach about the prevailing situation on Kashmir, Khan said "frankly we have been facing so many of our internal problems right now that I don't know much about the problem" Adding, "I would like to say but I will say one thing about China, for us China has been the best friend " Imran Khan who has been generally speaking about problems facing the Muslim all over the world, has been silent on the issue in China's north-western Xinjiang were most of the Uighurs are present. The comments come amidst a rally in Pakistani occupied Kashmir on Friday were he said Muslims are been persecuted in Kashmir by India and called on the world to speak on the issue. This is the second time Imran Khan has claimed no knowledge of the situation of Uighur Muslims in China. In an interview to Financial Times earlier this year, he said, "Frankly, I don't know much about that..if I had enough knowledge I would speak about it, it is not so much in the newspapers". Interestingly, in July this year, many Islamic countries including Pakistan wrote a letter praising China's policies in Xinjiang.

'Don't know much about': Imran Khan on situation of Uighurs Muslims in China

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