+

PREVENT TERROR GROUPS FROM USING AFGHAN SOIL: BRICS

Presidents Xi and Putin share India’s view on Afghanistan at BRICS summit chaired by Prime Minister Modi; ‘New Delhi Declaration’ calls for instilling new life in talks on UNSC reforms.

Calling for a settlement of the Afghan crisis through “peaceful” means, leaders of BRICS countries on Thursday underscored the priority of fighting terrorism, including preventing attempts by terrorist organisations to use Afghan territory as a terrorist sanctuary and to carry out attacks against other countries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the BRICS summit. The theme of the Summit is “BRICS@15: Intra-BRICS cooperation for continuity, consolidation and consensus”. The meeting was attended by Brazilian President Jair Bolsanaro, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In his opening remarks at the virtual summit, Prime Minister Modi said the BRICS platform had been useful for focusing attention on the priorities of the developing countries. “It is a matter of great pleasure for me and India to chair this summit for the 15th anniversary of the summit. India has received full cooperation from all BRICS partners during its chairmanship. I am deeply grateful to all of you for this. The BRICS platform has witnessed several achievements in one and a half decades,” he said. “Today we are an influential voice for emerging economies of the world. This platform has also been useful for focussing attention on the priories of the developing nations as well,” he added.

Leaders of the BRICS countries adopted the “New Delhi Declaration”, which read, “Leaders acknowledged that continued relevance of the UN system would be determined by its ability to adapt to contemporary realities. They pledged resolve towards strengthening and reforming the multilateral system to make global governance more responsive and agile, effective, transparent, democratic, representative and accountable to Member States.” “Leaders endorsed the BRICS Joint Statement on Strengthening and Reforming the Multilateral System adopted by BRICS Foreign Ministers on June 1, 2021. They also agreed on the principles for strengthening and reforming the multilateral system,” the declaration added.

Asserting that BRICS has become an important force on the international stage, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the member countries have supported multilateralism and taken part in global governance in the spirit of equity, justice and mutual assistance. In his opening remarks at the 13th BRICS Summit, Xi said the member countries have made progress in various areas in the spirit of pragmatism. “Over the past 15 years, our five countries have enhanced strategic communication and political trust in the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, and equality and explored a sound path to interact with each other. Our five countries have sought synergy between our development policies and drawn on our complementarities. We have made solid progress in various areas of cooperation in the spirit of pragmatism, innovation. And we have forged ahead on our common journey of development,” he said.

“Our five countries have supported multilateralism and taken part in global governance in the spirit of equity justice and mutual assistance and we have become an important force on the international stage to be reckoned with,” he added. Xi said BRICS members have maintained the momentum of BRICS cooperation overcoming the impact of Covid-19. “Since the beginning of this year, our five countries overcoming the impact of Covid-19 have maintained the momentum of BRICS cooperation and secured new progress in many areas,” he said. “What has happened shows that as long as we pull our mind and our efforts then we can make smooth solid and sustained progress in BRICS cooperation,” he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin in his address said that Afghanistan should not become a threat to its neighbouring countries and stressed that the US withdrawal has led to a new crisis in the region. Putin said, “Afghanistan should not become a threat to its neighbouring countries, a source of terrorism and drug trafficking.” “Outstanding regional conflicts have not stopped, on the contrary, they have erupted again, becoming more violent. The US and its allies’ withdrawal from Afghanistan has led to a new crisis and it’s still unclear how this will affect regional and global security,” he stressed. Putin added that Russia like its BRICS partners have consistently spoken for establishing a long-awaited peace and stability on Afghan soil. “The citizens of this country have fought for decades and deserve to exercise the right of defining what their state will look like on their own,” he noted. Putin also expressed his concerns for global security saying that it faced serious challenges and the system of strategic stability has gone all downhill.

The leaders expressed strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed. “They committed to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, and terrorism financing networks and safe-havens,” the declaration said. “On Afghanistan, BRICS leaders called for refraining from violence and settling the situation by peaceful means in Afghanistan, through an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue so as to ensure stability, civil peace, law and order in the country. They underscored the priority of fighting terrorism, including preventing attempts by terrorist organisations to use Afghan territory as terrorist sanctuary and to carry out attacks against other countries,” it said.

The leaders emphasised the need of addressing the humanitarian situation and upholding human rights, including those of women, children and minorities. On climate issues, the leaders expressed commitment to full implementation of the UNFCCC, its Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement, and to the principles of UNFCCC including “Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities”, in the light of different national circumstances.

Prime Minister Modi conveyed his appreciation to leaders of member countries for maintaining the momentum of intra-BRICS cooperation despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of External Affairs said. In a special briefing on the summit by the Ministry of External Affairs, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, MEA Secretary (CPV & OIA) said BRICS leaders also recognised the role of India in many initiatives that were undertaken and many outcomes that were achieved. “PM Modi conveyed his appreciation to BRICS partners for supporting India’s BRICS chairship and maintaining the momentum of intra-BRICS cooperation throughout this year, despite the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic,” Bhattacharyya said. “BRICS leaders also recognised the role of India and there were many initiatives that were undertaken and many outcomes that were achieved. We hope that all achievements will our people,” he added.

The secretary said that New Delhi outlined four priorities for its chairship—reform of multilateral system, counter-terrorism cooperation, using technological or digital solutions for attaining SDGs and enhancing people-to-people engagements. “Our idea was to seek ways to strengthen BRICS cooperation and to develop on founding principles of BRICS engagement, primarily continuity, consolidation & consensus, & how we can be even more result-oriented in future: Sanjay Bhattacharyya,” he said.

Tags:

Featured