BRICS Summit 2017 | Exposed by China, Pakistan lashes out

The growing relationship between India and China under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping has clearly left Pakistan rattled. On Monday, in a declaration, BRICS nations named Pakistan based terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Haqqani network in its declaration, condemning terror in all forms. The declaration is crucial as it is backed by China which in the past was known for being an ally of Pakistan. Earlier today, Pakistan’s Defence Minister said that they rejected the BRICS declaration and now, Republic TV accessed the Pakistan Foreign Ministry’s statement as well.

While rejecting the declaration, Pakistan reiterated that it has no terrorist safe havens. Pakistan Defence Minister Khurram Dastagir said that the country’s aerial borders and maritime boundaries are being strictly protected. “We reject the declaration (released by member countries) at the BRICS Summit,” he said during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Defence. He added that Pakistan has taken action against all the groups on its social and only the remnants of some are left."

Justifying the declaration, the Defence Minister cited a report by the US Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction, he said of the 407 Afghan districts, only 57% are under their control. 

Pakistan’s official reaction on BRICS Xiamen Declaration stated that “Many terrorist groups based in the region, including in Afghanistan, such as the TTP and its associates like JuA have been responsible for extreme acts of violence against Pakistani people. We are deeply concerned at the presence of groups like Daesh, ETIM and IMU in the ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan as they pose a threat to peace and security in the region.”

The leaders had released the Xiamen Declaration, expressing concern over the security situation in the region. "We strongly condemn terrorist attacks resulting in death to innocent Afghan nationals. We, in this regard, express concern on the security situation in the region and violence caused by the Taliban, ISIL/DAISH, Al Qaida and its affiliates including Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, TTP and Hizb ut-Tahrir," said the declaration.