The Indian government has stepped up security at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi over fears that extremists linked to al-Qaeda could be looking for soft targets.  

Indian officials and diplomats say Pakistan is also taking steps to protect Chinese officials.

The officials were commenting on a report in The Times of India that the Chinese government has for the first time, asked India to tighten security, not just around the Chinese Embassy in the city, but also around all its establishments in the country.

According to The Times of India report, in its letter to New Delhi, Beijing voiced concerns over attacks by the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement activists.

The small militant separatist group is based in China’s northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a vast, thinly populated area that shares borders with several countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.

(CRI.com October 2, 2004)