Prime Minister Modi’s remarks at the BRICS Plenary session were tinged with irony. Take for instance his remarks on terrorism.
He said “In order to counter terrorism and terror financing, we need the single- minded firm support of all. There is no place for double standards on this serious matter. We need to take active steps to stop radicalization of youth in our countries.”
Unfortunately, double standards is the norm when it comes to terrorism. China has blocked India’s efforts at the United Nations to get certain Pakistani individuals designated as terrorists.
In June last year, China blocked a proposal by India and the US to designate Pakistan-based Sajid Mir, of the Lashkar-e-Toiba, as a global terrorist. He is wanted in India for his role in the 26/11 attacks.
India and the US wanted to blacklist him under the UN’s 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee and subject him to assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.
China blocked it because “Iron Brother” Pakistan would be embarrassed given that he is in that country serving a 15-year jail term for terror financing. The same Pakistan had earlier declared him dead
In June 2022, China had also blocked an India-US move to designate Pakistan-based Abdul Rehman Makki a “Global Terrorist”. He is the brother-in-law of Lashkar-e-Toiba chief and 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
In 2019 China was the only country in the Security Council to place a technical hold on a bid to blacklist Masood Azhar, chief of the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Modi’s other remark on the admission of new members, was also directed at China.
“All decisions should be taken by consensus,” he said, “and the views of BRICS founding members must be respected. The Guiding Principles, Standards, Criteria and Procedures adopted during the Johannesburg Summit, should be complied with by all members and partners countries.”
But this was bulldozed by China, which used its clout in the BRICS to bring in new members, disregarding the views of India and Brazil.
Even on the issue of reform of global institutions such as the UN Security Council, China has no interest in seeing any dilution in the power of the veto-wielding members. Even Russia and every other member of the P5, have no intention of giving up their powers.
Modi’s last remark focused on BRICS. “We must be careful to ensure that this organisation does not acquire the image of one trying to replace global institutions, instead of being perceived as one that wishes to reform them.”
It was a subtle reminder to the assembled heads of state and government that BRICS must remain true to its founding ideals, make decisions based on consensus and no one country or cabal of members should seek to dominate or drive the agenda in a particular direction to the detriment of the larger organisation.
