ISIS-K, Baloch separatists and ‘3 evils’: China's nightmare in Pakistan

NEW DELHI: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), originally established to ease border tensions and combat the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism, and extremism, is refocusing its counterterrorism efforts in light of recent deadly attacks in member states, including Russia and Pakistan. These incidents have ignited a fierce determination among member countries to strengthen their joint anti-terrorism strategies.

The most recent and severe of these attacks occurred at Crocus City Hall in Moscow, where gunmen killed at least 140 people, marking the deadliest assault in Russia in two decades. Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), an Afghanistan-based affiliate of the militant group Islamic State, claimed responsibility for this attack.

Days later, a suicide bomber killed five Chinese workers in northwest Pakistan, an attack that appeared to target Chinese interests, though no group has claimed responsibility. Separatist ethnic Baloch insurgent groups in the mineral-rich region have been fighting for decades against the state, saying it denies them their share of regional resources. Beijing has invested heavily in regional development projects as part of its $65 billion pledge under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
According to a South China Morning Post, the recent violence has prompted suggestions within the SCO to intensify cooperation through joint training exercises, enhanced intelligence sharing, and coordinated actions against armed groups like ISIS-K. However, amid these ambitions, Ian Hall from Griffith University expressed skepticism about China and Russia’s willingness to engage in risky interventions in regions like Afghanistan or Pakistan, where the threat from militant groups is profound.

David Arase, a resident professor of international politics, noted, “ISIS-K epitomizes China’s nightmare, the ‘three evils’ of terrorism, separatism and religious extremism because [it] seeks an Islamic state under radical theocratic rule.”
“The SCO already has a regional anti-terrorism structure for information sharing, and resources had been activated in response to the Moscow attacks,” said Thomas Wilkins, an associate professor at the University of Sydney, highlighting the organization's readiness to respond to such threats.
Moreover, in the backdrop of these terror attacks, there is a growing concern among SCO members about external influences destabilizing their regions, with Chinese President Xi Jinping urging vigilance against the West's potential to incite disturbances, the SCMP report said.

The SCO’s evolving focus reflects a geopolitical shift where Moscow and Beijing are keen on maintaining security and stability while keeping Western influences at bay, especially in their Central Asian sphere of influence.
(With inputs from agencies)