BRICS leaders condemn terrorism in all forms

Say increasing misuse of ICTs threatens international peace, security; Modi fails to get Pakistan included in declaration as a terrorist state; terms Pakistan ‘mothership of terrorism’

SALCETE, Goa: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomacy on Sunday blew in his face when he failed to muster the support of BRICS leaders to include Pakistan in the five-nation bloc’s declaration as a terrorist state.

In their joint statement, the BRICS leaders condemned recent attacks against some of its members “including that in India” but made no mention of Pakistan.

“We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stress that there can be no justification whatsoever for any acts of terrorism, whether based upon ideological, religious, political, racial, ethnic or any other reasons,” the statement said.

The BRICS leaders emphasised the need to enhance international cooperation against terrorists and criminal misuse of the latest Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for terrorist purposes.

“The increasing misuse of ICTs for terrorist purposes poses a threat to international peace and security. We emphasise the need to enhance international cooperation against terrorist and criminal misuse of ICTs and reaffirm the general approach laid down in the eThekwini, Fortaleza and Ufa declarations in this regard,” said the BRICS leaders in the declaration issued here.

“We will continue to work together for the adoption of rules, norms and principles of responsible behaviour of states, including through the process of UNGGE.

“We recognise that the states have the leading role to ensure stability and security in the use of ICTs,” they said, while reaffirming the key role of the UN in addressing the issues related to the security in the use of ICTs.

Reaffirming that the ICT expansion is a key enabler for sustainable development for international peace and security and for human rights, the leaders said, “We agree to strengthen joint efforts to enhance security in the use of ICTs, combating the use of ICTs for criminal and terrorist purposes and improving cooperation between our technical, law enforcement, R and D and innovation in the field of ICTs and capacity building institutions.”

They expressed their commitment to bridging digital and technological divides, in particular between developed and developing countries, and recognised that their approach must be multidimensional and inclusive and contain an evolving understanding of what constitutes access, emphasising the quality of that access.

The leaders emphasized the use and development of ICTs through international and regional cooperation and on the basis of universally accepted norms and principles of international law, including the Charter of the UN.

“We advocate also for an open, non-fragmented and secure Internet, and reaffirm that the Internet is a global resource and that States should participate on an equal footing in its evolution and functioning, taking into account the need to involve relevant stakeholders in their respective roles and responsibilities,” they said.

Modi urged BRICS leaders to take a strong united stand against the “mothership of terrorism” in the South Asia, in a thinly veiled reference to Pakistan.

He said a country in India’s neighbourhood had links to “terror modules” around the world, which the block should strongly condemn.

“In our region, terrorism poses a grave threat to peace, security and development,” Modi told leaders at the BRICS summit here.

“Terror modules around the world are linked to this mothership. This country shelters not just terrorists. It nurtures a mindset. A mindset that loudly proclaims that terrorism is justified for political gains.”

“It is a mindset we strongly condemn. And against which we as BRICS need to stand and act together. BRICS must speak in one voice against this threat,” he said.

China enjoys strong relations with Pakistan where it is pursuing a series of infrastructure projects, while Russia is pushing to forge closer defence ties with Islamabad.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made no commitments on terrorism during a bilateral meeting with Modi on Saturday before the BRICS summit, although an Indian official said they agreed to cooperate on preventing terrorism.

China this year blocked India’s request to add a Pakistani militant group chief to a UN sanctions blacklist, sparking frustration in Delhi.