LONDON – *The International Crisis Group has said in a report that China’smilitary is ramping up its security presence in Afghanistan and Tajikistanamid fears that militants could strike at western China.*

The independent think tank stated that China has deployed soldiers andbuilt a “counter-terrorism center” in Tajikistan near the three-way borderof Tajikistan, China, and Afghanistan.

Afghanistan Military also declared that Afghan forces will take militaryactions with China in bordering areas between the two countries and theregional countries should cooperate the country in the fight againstterrorism.

China has repeatedly warned about ethnic Uighur militants who have lefttheir homeland in western China to join extremist groups such as theTurkistan Islamic Party, a predominantly Uighur group that has bases inSyria and Afghanistan and is allied with al-Qaida and the Taliban.

In the meantime, the Afghan government has taken preparation to launchoperation under the name of “Nasrat” to suppress the insurgent groups whichincludes in the Badakhshan, the neighboring province of China.

“Insurgents have their presence in cooperation with the local Taliban inBadakhshan and the foreign Taliban are also supporting and training them,”said Ahmad Faisal Beghzad, the governor of Badakhshan.

This comes as the regional countries have always voiced concern over thepresence of extremist groups in Afghanistan.