URUMQI (Xinjiang), May 29: China is due to start a weekly flight from Kashghar to Islamabad from June 8 to help businessmen from the two sides increase bilateral trade which is currently on the decrease. The governor of Xinjiang Autonomous Region will be in Islamabad on the eve of the inaugural flight.

One reason for the decline in trade is travel time, about two days, if trade is conducted through the Karakoram Highway. And if the air route is preferred, it is costly because after reaching Urumqi, Pakistani businessmen still have to fly to Kashghar.

Another reason may be the terror factor. Chinese officials are apparently worried over the possible spread of Islamic / separatist terrorism to this region but would not concede its presence.

One of the subjects of the three senior officials who briefed Pakistani and Afghan media delegations on Friday was about the situation regarding the role of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in this region.

He was aggressive in his tone in condemning the movement and said they were a small gang operating outside the borders of the region.