Pakistan-based terror groups named in BRICS declaration for first time

New Delhi/Xiamen/ Beijing: In a major diplomatic victory for India, the Brics Summit joint declaration for the first time named Pakistan-based terrorist groups Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) along with ISIS, Taliban and others groups indulging in violence, while adding that “those responsible for committing, organising or supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable”.

The declaration was adopted at the 9th Brics Summit in the Chinese city of Xiamen on Monday.

The statement — issued with the endorsement of the five Brics nations — comes a day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday.

In Xiamen, MEA’s secretary (East) Preeti Saran was quoted as telling reporters, “For the first time specific listing of terror organisations has been made (in the Brics declaration)... Terrorism is a scourge that has to be addressed collectively by the entire international community. And, I think, increasingly there is a realisation that you cannot have double standards in tackling this scourge."

The declaration referred to terrorism at least 17 times, apart from mentioning other forms of extremism and radicalisation. At the Brics Goa Summit last year, China had stalled India’s efforts to include Pakistan-based terror groups in the declaration. But New Delhi seems to have persuaded Beijing this time to come on board.

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China said that Pakistan-based terrorist outfits like JeM, LeT and the Haqqani network have been included in the Brics joint declaration due to concerns about their violent activities in the region. 

“These organisations are all sanctioned by the UN Security Council and have a significant impact for Afghanistan issue,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a news agency in a written response.

China has been blocking efforts by India to get UN sanctions imposed on JeM chief and Pakistan-based terrorist Masood Azhar. While India hopes that China, having put its signature on the statement, will follow it up with action, Beijing is most likely to back its all-weather ally and “iron brother” Islamabad at all global fora.            

“We reaffirm that those responsible for committing, organising, or supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable… we stress the necessity to develop international cooperation, in accordance with the principles of international law, including that of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in their internal affairs. We reaffirm solidarity and resolve in the fight against terrorism… and agree to strengthen our cooperation,” the Brics declaration said. 

Mr Modi was joined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Michael Temer and South African President Jacob Zuma in strongly denouncing terror groups and their supporters, while expressing determination to collectively fight terrorism. They also condemned the nuclear test conducted by North Korea.

Interestingly, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, also mentioned in the statement, operates in China’s Xinjiang province.

Ahead of the Brics Summit, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson had said, “We noticed that India, when it comes to Pakistan’s counter-terrorism, has some concerns. I don’t think this is an appropriate topic to be discussed at the Brics Summit.”

Four documents signed at the summit included Brics Action Agenda on Economic and Trade Cooperation, Brics Action Plan for Innovation Cooperation and others related to business and cooperation among nations.