BRICS adopts new counter-terror strategy; PM Modi says nations supporting terrorists should be held guilty

  five-nation grouping BRICS on Tuesday opted a new counter-terrorism strategy to effectively deal with menace, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that re is a need to ensure that countries supporting terrorists are held guilty, a call backed by Russian president Vlimir Putin, who dubbed such nations "black sheep of family".

Modi, while dressing 12th BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) summit, held virtually, said terrorism is "biggest problem" world is facing, and needed to be dealt with in an organised manner.

At summit, which was also attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Prime Minister talked about "crisis" facing multilateralism, and highlighted need for reform of United Nations Security Council as well as various or key global bodies.

"Terrorism is biggest problem world is facing. We have to ensure that countries that support and assist terrorists are also held guilty and problem is dealt with in an organised manner," Prime Minister said.

Though, Modi did t name any country, his reference is seen as directed at Pakistan.

We are happy that BRICS counter-terrorism strategy has been finalised during chairmanship of Russia. This is an important achievement and India will take this forward furr during its presidency, he said.

Prime Minister's remarks pitching for holding countries supporting terrorism guilty was quickly supported by Putin as he said some countries were like “black sheep of family” and world should t show any complacency in dealing with challenges like terrorism and COVID-19 pandemic.In a subsequent intervention after his dress, Modi also suggested that National Security visers of member countries can deliberate on framing a counter-terrorism action plan. prime minister furr suggested that BRICS Business Council can make a concrete plan to take mutual business among member nations to target of USD 500 billion.

In his dress, Prime Minister said India and South Africa have proposed that COVID-19 vaccines and treatments be exempted from intellectual property agreements and sought support of or BRICS countries to it.

BRICS is kwn as an influential bloc that represents over 3.6 billion people, or half of world's population. BRICS countries have a combined GDP of USD 16.6 trillion.

In a declaration, bloc touched upon a variety of pressing global issues including dealing with threat of terrorism.

"We reiterate our strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed, and that it should t be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group," it said.

It also stressed "need for a comprehensive and balanced approach of whole international community to effectively curb terrorist activities, which pose a serious threat, including in present-day pandemic environment."

Underlining need for reform of UNSC as well as key global bodies like World Tre Organisation, International Monetary Fund and World Health Organisation, Modi said, "both credibility and effectiveness of institutions of global governance are being questioned. main reason for this is that se organisations did t change over time and y are still operating based on 75-year-old thinking."

"India believes reforms are very mandatory in UN Security Council. We expect support of our BRICS partners on this subject," he said, and asserted that multilateralism is undergoing a crisis.

Talking about COVID-19 crisis and its impact, Modi said BRICS ecomies will play an important role in post-pandemic global recovery and that India's vaccine production and delivery capabilities will work in interest of humanity.

We have more than 42 percent of world's population, and our countries are among main engines of global ecomy. re is a lot of scope for increasing mutual tre between BRICS countries,  Prime Minister said.

Our mutual institutions and systems - such as BRICS Inter-Bank Cooperation Mechanism, New Development Bank, Contingent Reserve Arrangement and Customs Cooperation - can also make our contribution effective in global recovery,he said. Prime Minister also highlighted reform initiatives undertaken by his government under 'self-reliant India' campaign.

"We have started a comprehensive reform process under 'Self-reliant India' campaign. campaign is based on belief that a self-reliant and resilient India post-COVID can be a force multiplier for global ecomy and make a strong contribution to global value chains," he said.

Modi also mentioned about India supplying essential medicines to more than 150 countries in last few months.

Our vaccine production and delivery capacity will also serve for benefit of humanity, Modi said.

Referring to India's BRICS chairmanship, Prime Minister said India will work on enhancing collaboration in digital health and tritional medicine.

"During our chairmanship in 2021. we will try to strengn intra-BRICS cooperation in all three pillars of BRICS. We will endeavor to increase intra-BRICS solidarity and develop a solid institutional framework for this purpose," Modi said. 

(IM CREDITS:PTI)