On June 24, 2022, the 14th annual summit of BRICS was virtually hosted by the People’s Republic of China, in which thirteen Countries along with the five member states of BRICS were invited.
Since, China was hosting this summit therefore, it was expected that Pakistan will be invited to this annual meeting of BRICS however, that didn’t happen.
It is pertinent to give you a brief introduction to BRICS-BRICS is an intergovernmental organization and the acronym coined to associate five major emerging economies: the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation, the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of South Africa. Member States’ initials make up the abbreviation BRICS- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
The BRICS have a combined area of 39,746,220 km^2 (15,346,101.0 sq mi) and an estimated total population of about 3.21 billion, about 26.7% of the world land surface and 41.5% of the world population. Four out of five members are among the world’s ten largest countries by population, by area and GDP, except for South Africa which is twenty-third in both.
The BRICS members are known for their significant influence on world affairs. Since 2009, the governments of the BRICS states have met annually at formal summits. China hosted the most recent 14th BRICS summit on ‘Dialogue on Global Development on 24 June 2022 via a video conference.
Argentina, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey have expressed strong interest in full membership of the BRICS, while Egypt, Iran, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria and most recently Pakistan have also expressed interest in joining BRICS In 2022, both Argentina and Iran confirmed their attendance at the 2022 BRICS summit upon invitation by host nation China, as well as confirming their desire to each permanently join the bloc.
Responding to media queries about this ‘High-level Dialogue on Global Development’ held virtually on sidelines of the BRICS meetings, the Pakistani Spokesperson Foreign Office stated the following:
”Pakistan congratulates China on the successful hosting of the BRICS meetings. We have noted that this year a “High-level Dialogue on Global Development” was held as a BRICS side event in which a number of developing/emerging economies were invited.
China being the host country engaged with Pakistan prior to the BRICS meetings, where decisions are taken after consultations with all BRICS members, including extending invitation to non-members. Regrettably one member blocked Pakistan’s participation . However, we do hope that future engagement of the organization would be based on the principles of inclusivity keeping in view the overall interests of the developing world and in a manner that is devoid of narrow geo-political considerations.”
This statement of FO is one of the many statements which are being made after every diplomatic setback to make fool the Pakistani folks as if our every participation in international summits are vetoed by India. However, this is not true. BRICS member countries include China and Russia as well and this time china was hosting this meeting so, India wasn’t the only decision maker regarding Pakistan’s participation, China and Russia were also the decision-makers.
What this indicates is that China and Russia have backed India on keeping Pakistan out of BRICS Plus event. Since this US-sponsored Regime Change Operation in Pakistan, China and Russia have been closely following the events that are unfolding after April this year. Pakistan’s tilt towards the US has made China suspicious about Pakistan’s intentions. Secondly, the Pakistani security agencies failure in preventing attacks on Chinese workers and professionals in the last couple of months has further intensified Pak-China relations.
While on the other side India, despite the military confrontation with china back in June 2020, is coming closer to China. According to Reuters recent story, india’s biggest cement manufacturing firm ultra-tech has purchased Russian coal using Chinese yuan. This is a major setback for dollar monopoly of the US, as an important strategic ally has gone against the International trading standards set by the US.
Recently, India has openly criticized US and Europe regarding Russian oil and gas imports. Indian Minister for external affairs, Dr. S. Jaishankar defended his country on purchasing the Russian oil during a press briefing along with the US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Washington D.C on April 11, 2022. After the Russia- Ukraine war, Russia has become India’s second-biggest oil exporter. Despite extreme US pressures, India and China did purchase Russian goods after the Russia-Ukraine war whereas, Pakistan bowed in front of the American pressures. This is where Pakistan has always failed and that’s the reason why Pakistan has always been considered as a US-client state by Russia, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia and now China as well.
Through dot-connecting, one can easily come to the conclusion that the triangular trade agreement among China, Russia and India could be the first step towards challenging west, especially the United States. In all of this, Pakistan is on the wrong side of history as it has once again opted to join the American zone of influence, which in the past has always done wrong to the people as well as the state of Pakistan.
