Backdoor diplomacy: Why China backed off BRICS declaration?

by Tauqeer Abbas
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Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Sun Weidong has assured Pakistan that nothing new has been demanded of it with respect to the recently-adopted BRICS declaration against terrorist groups.

 

 

The leaders of the five emerging market powers — Brazil, Russia, India China and South Africa — named militant groups allegedly based in Pakistan, including the Haqqani Network, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-i-Taiba, as a regional security concern for the first time on Monday and called for their patrons to be held to account.

 

 

“The BRICS declaration mentioned organisations which are already banned,” Weidong observed, adding, “There has been no change in Chinese policy regarding Pakistan.”

 

 

Praising Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism, Weidong said that China fully supports Pakistan’s stance on terrorism. “Pakistan and China are in constant contact regarding regional challenges.” he said.

 

At the BRICS Summit on Monday, India was able to secure a major diplomatic victory for itself after the member countries backed the UN resolution on terrorism, specifically naming Pakistan-based terror groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Haqqani Network in the declaration. This comes in the wake of BRICS member China’s repeated blocking of a UN Resolution against JeM chief Masood Azhar, thus inflicting repeated diplomatic defeats on India.

 

 

This will come as a major setback for Pakistan that will now find itself further isolated in the global community on the issue of terrorism. It happens to be the second time in a week that Pakistan has been rapped on its knuckles for its support to terrorists operating in the region.

 

 

US president Donald Trump’s recently-announced policy on Afghanistan also sought to shame Pakistan on the issue. Now, the expression of concern over Pakistan-based terror groups at the BRICS Summit will work to double the diplomatic pressure on Pakistan.

 

However, China’s explanation in this regard may relieve some pressure on Pakistan but the question still remains there that would China support India if it again files a plea against Masood Azhar at UN?

 

This will shape the future of the China-Pakistan ties because Pakistan has its principal stance on Kashmir and after the UN ban on Syed Salahuddin, Pakistan definitely cannot afford banning of JeM and Masood Azhar.  

 

 

pk.shafaqna.com

 

 

 

 

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