China brushes aside Indian propaganda of diplomatic victory in BRICS declaration
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ISLAMABAD: A number of Pakistani and Indian experts said that BRICS designating terrorist groups already banned by UN does not signal any difference in Beijing's policy on Pakistan, one of its closest allies.
A former diplomat said the declaration was positive as, instead of vilifying any state on the wish of another state and singling out any country for censure, the declaration condemned almost all key terrorist elements without any discrimination that pose threat to peace in the region.
He pointed out that the statement also mentioned TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan), the terrorist group which has carried out most of the attacks inside Pakistan and which Islamabad claims of having proof that it is being supported by Indian and Afghan intelligence agencies.
Responding to India’s propaganda, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told [news agency] Press Trust of India that BRICS countries have "shown their concerns to the violent activities raised by these organisations".
"These organisations are all sanctioned by the UN Security Council and have a significant impact for Afghanistan issue," Geng told PTI in a written response.
A foreign ministry official told The Nation that the word “TTP” was used in the declaration on the insistence of China to keep the word “Pakistan” out.
China had last week ruled out any discussions on Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts at the BRICS Summit in Xiamen. Beijing said it would not be an appropriate topic to be taken up by the group.
Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif will visit the regional countries – beginning with China – on September 8 to discuss the foreign policy and the future strategy.
The tour of the important regional countries comes after US President Donald Trump’s anti-Pakistan speech last month.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the summit, and will hold talks with President Xi Jinping of China on September 5 (today), their first meeting, after the prolonged Doklam standoff ended.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the BRICS countries had “shown their concerns to the violent activities raised by these organisations.”
This is the first time that a BRICS declaration has named alleged Pakistan-based terror groups.
The UN had banned Jaish in 2001.
China made a distinction between the group and its chief Masood Azhar and has repeatedly blocked efforts by India at the United Nations to designate the Masood Azhar a terrorist.
