Xinjiang official Elijan Anayat recalled the time his home was threatened by the East Turkistan Isalamic Movement, a terrorist group once based in Afghanistan.

"With the goal of dividing Xinjiang from China, the East Turkistan Islamic Movement instigated, planned and implemented a series of violent terrorist incidents in Xinjiang, causing extreme harm to people's lives and assets," Anayat said. Xinjiang shares a border with Afghanistan.

"Our decisiveness to crack down on terrorism, protect the lives and assets of all ethnic minorities, and safeguard social stability and the country's unity is unshakable," he added, calling on the Taliban to draw a clear distinction from terrorist groups.

On the alleged human rights issues in the region, another official elaborated.

"They accused Xinjiang of genocide, but the population of ethnic minorities, including Uygurs, has seen steady growth in the past decade. They accused Xinjiang of violating human rights, but actually, Xinjiang has been protecting the political, economic, and cultural rights of people, based on laws," said Xu Guixiang, a spokesperson for the Information Office with the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The UK parliament recently accused Xinjiang of forced sterilization and genocide of the Uygur people in the region as well as detaining 1.8 million residents.

Xu noted that Xinjiang has been very stable, without any terrorist events over the past four years.

The official also called into question the UK's history with human rights, "When the UK was expanding, it carried out genocide against the indigenous people, such as Native Americans in North America, and Maoris in Australia. The UK also sold and trafficked Black slaves, forcing them into labor. The Muslims have also been suffering discrimination in the UK." 

"How is such a country qualified to teach China about human rights," he questioned.

(Cover: Xinjiang locals weigh rose petals used for making rose sauce at a village in Hotan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 6, 2018. /Xinhua)