XIAMEN (CHINA), Sept 4: Barely a week after U.S President Donald J. Trump accused Pakistan of giving shelter to terrorist groups, leaders of the BRICS countries specifically mentioned names of terrorist organizations in Pakistan and called upon action against those responsible for committing, organizing or supporting terrorist acts.
A 71-point joint declaration jointly issued by leaders of BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa--on Monday following leaders meeting at the ongoing BRICS summit in Xiamen on Monday didn’t directly point out to Pakistan like Trump did but stated that the five countries express concern about violence caused by the Taliban, ISIL/DAISH, Al-Qaida and its affiliates including Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP and Hizbut-Tahrir in the region.
“We call upon all nations to adopt a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, which should include countering radicalization, recruitment, movement of terrorists including Foreign Terrorist Fighters, blocking sources of financing terrorism including, for instance, through organized crime by means of money-laundering, supply of weapons, drug trafficking and other criminal activities, dismantling terrorist bases, and countering misuse of the Internet including social media by terrorist entities through misuse of the latest Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs),” the declaration stated.
Most of the organizations mentioned in the statement are operated from Pakistan and have been involved in cross-border terrorism, particularly in India and Afghanistan. The organizations have been officially banned by United Nations, U.S, India and even Pakistan.
Pakistan has long been accused by its neighbors India and Afghanistan, and western nations like the United States, and the United Kingdom of supporting militant groups.
The move to single out terrorist organizations operating from Pakistan without mentioning its name in the declaration has viewed as the BRICS countries plan to mount pressure on Pakistan to pursue effective counter-terrorism efforts.
Last year, during the BRICS summit in Goa, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dubbed Pakistan as a “mother-ship of terrorism”. However, China, a closest-ally of Pakistan, had remained silent on the issue then.
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But this time, China has also joined India and other BRICS countries to mount pressure on Pakistan.
On August 21, US President Trump, while issuing his grand strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia, had accused Pakistan of sheltering terrorist organizations.
In the declaration, the BRICS leaders stated, “Recalling the primary leading role and responsibility of states in preventing and countering terrorism, 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.”
The BRICS leaders also condemned recent terrorist attack in Afghanistan, which was reportedly carried out by the Haqqani network operated from Pakistan.
“We strongly condemn terrorist attacks resulting in death of innocent Afghan nationals. We support the efforts of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces in fighting terrorist organizations,” the declaration states.
The main BRICS Summit was inaugurated on Monday where leaders of all the five countries also discussed international and regional issues of common concern apart from terrorism and issued the joint declaration. Leaders of the five countries have also agreed to seek broad partnership with emerging markets and developing countries for promoting global economic growth.
