Uighur Muslims protest against Chinese government (File photo) | Photo Credit: AP

Key Highlights US official slammed Pakistan for showing same level of concern for China's Muslims as Kashmir's China is condemned internationally for sending its Uighur Muslims to mass detention camps Pak PM Imran Khan has often ducked the questions on Kashmir

Islamabad: The US has called out Pakistan’s double standards over concern shown for Muslims of Kashmir while staying mum on detentions of the members of the community in Western China.

US Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia said Pakistan has failed to express any concern for Muslims being detained in Western China’s Xinjiang region in response to questions on concerns voiced by Imran Khan on Jammu & Kashmir.

"...I would like to see the same level of concern expressed also about Muslims who are being detained in Western China, literally in concentration-like conditions. And so being concerned about the human rights of Muslims does extend more broadly than Kashmir, and you've seen the administration very involved here during the UN General Assembly and trying to shine a light on the horrific conditions that continue to exist for Muslims throughout China," said Alice Wells, US Acting Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia on Thursday while replying to a question about Pakistan PM's alleged concerns about Kashmir.

The US official’s takedown of Pakistan comes even as Islamabad upped the rhetoric against India over the reading down of Article 370. Pakistan PM Imran Khan called himself an ambassador of Kashmiri people and has criticised India on international forums for imposing restrictions in the state.

Imran Khan has in the past ducked the question when asked for his views on China’s treatment of the members of the minority community in its western province. He has in the past claimed complete ignorance about the issue and skirted the questions saying there is enough going on in his own country.

China has received international condemnation for oppressing the rights of Uighur Muslims and sending them to ‘re-education’ camps which human rights agencies say are mass detention facilities.

Ever since the reading down of Article 370, Imran Khan has often accused the Indian government of being a ‘fascist‘ regime which is oppressing Kashmiris.