NEW DELHI: Describing terrorism as the greatest challenge facing the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Tuesday for holding countries that support the threat to account. The twelfth Brics summit hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin also saw Modi welcoming the completion of a Brics counter-terrorism strategy that called on member states to respect each other’s sovereignty.
The summit also featured the participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Modi sought the support of the BRIC nations for reform of UN Security Council (UNSC) and other global institutions such as the WHO, the WTO and the IMF, saying they had failed to keep up with current realities.
Significantly for India, the BRIC nations said in a joint document that the counterterrorism cooperation strategy will be based, among other things, on full respect for the sovereignty of participating countries, non-interference in their internal affairs and rejection of the “double standards”. “on the fight against terrorism and extremism that leads to terrorism.
India has in the past accused China of employing double standards in dealing with terrorism by defending Pakistan-based terrorists at the UN, including JeM chief Masood Azhar. The government has also repeatedly called on China not to undermine India’s sovereignty with the China-Pakistan economic corridor Passing by Gilgit-Baltistan which, as India says, is illegally occupied by Pakistan.
The Brics strategy It also called on States to refrain from organizing, instigating, facilitating, participating in, financing, encouraging or tolerating terrorist activities and to take appropriate practical measures to guarantee that their territories are not used for terrorist bases or the preparation or organization of acts terrorists “destined to be committed against other States or their citizens”.
The Brics’ counterterrorism cooperation, according to the document, is also based on the “inadmissibility” of using terrorist groups, or issues related to the fight against international terrorism and extremism leading to terrorism, for political purposes.
Welcoming the completion of the Strategy as a major achievement, Modi also suggested in an intervention that the Brics NSA discuss a plan of action against terrorism.
In his opening remarks, Modi also sought the support of other member states for the reform of the UNSC and other international institutions.
“Questions are being raised about the credibility and effectiveness of global governance institutions. The main reason is that these have not changed with the times and are still based on the mindset and realities of the 75-year-old world,” Modi said.
“As a founding member of the UN, India has been a strong advocate of multilateralism. In Indian culture, we see the whole world as one family, so it was natural for us to support an organization like the UN. The UN has been Unyielding. India has also lost the maximum number of brave soldiers in peace operations. But the multilateral system today is in crisis, “he added.
The prime minister also spoke about Atmanirbhar India under which, he said, India had launched a campaign based on the belief that a self-reliant and resilient India can emerge as a force multiplier for the post-Covid economy and make a strong contribution to the global value chains. .
“We saw an example when the capabilities of the Indian pharmaceutical industry allowed us to supply essential medicines to more than 150 countries,” Modi said.
In video: BRICS Summit 2020: PM Modi advocates for reforms at the UNSC, IMF and WTO
.
