BRICS 2016: Divide over Pak terror

Benaulim, Goa: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday claimed unanimity within the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (Brics) grouping on terrorism but officials conceded differences that showed up in a joint declaration and in comments by China's President. Modi referred to terrorism in four different addresses to the BRICS leaders within five hours in an unparalleled attempt to place terror at the top of the agenda of a grouping that has traditionally focused on being a global economic voice for emerging nations. The Prime Minister described Pakistan as the "mothership" of terrorism and, in his concluding remarks, listed unity over the challenge posed by terrorism as the first among gains from the summit here. "The most serious direct threat to our economic prosperity is terrorism - tragically, its mothership is a country in India's neighbourhood," Modi said in his first statementon Sunday, in a closed session with the Presidents of the four other BRICS nations, before returning to a Pakistan reference in his final statement five hours later. "We also agreed that those who nurture, shelter, support and sponsor such forces of violence and terror, are as much a threat to us as the terrorists themselves." Later, officials conceded that India had been unable to bring about consensus on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism - and the unanimity was limited to the "broad principles" involving the threat posed by terrorism. The joint declaration issued by the five nations after the summit specifically named the "ISIL" (now known as the Islamic State) and the Jabhat al Nusra, an affiliate of al Qaida in Syria. This signalled the consensus within the group over the threat posed by these outfits. But, pointing to the fissures, the declaration did not list Pakistan-based terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the Lashkar-e-Toiba that, like the Islamic State and the Jabhat al Nusra, are also proscribed by the UN. "I guess it doesn't really concern all the BRICS," Amar Sinha, secretary (economic relations) at the foreign office and India's BRICS point person, accepted. "Perhaps that's why we couldn't get a consensus on naming these groups." The joint declaration, issued in the evening, did reflect two gains for India - a reference to the need for the "dismantling of terrorist bases", and a recollection of commitments made by all countries "to prevent terrorist actions from their territories". But by then, Chinese President Xi Jinping had injected shades of dissent into the Brics debate on terrorism. Modi had told him yesterday that they couldn't afford to disagree on terrorism. On Sunday, Xi waited till Modi, in his opening remarks at the summit's plenary session, criticised those who distinguish between terrorists "based on artificial and self-serving grounds". Speaking after Modi, Xi used words that initially appeared placatory but then cut through the unanimity the Indian leader was trying to build. "It is imperative that we step up coordination and communication on major international issues and regional hotspots and act in concert to find political solution to hotspot issues and take on such global challenges like natural disasters, climate change, infectious diseases and terrorism," Xi said. "While speaking with one voice, we should also address issues on the ground with concrete efforts and multi-pronged approach that addresses both symptoms and root causes." His references to a "political solution" and "root causes" in the context of terrorism - among other global challenges - echo the argument of Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute. Sinha indicated these comments weren't completely surprising but added that he did not think China was arguing for the "root causes" of terrorism to be addressed. "The Chinese have been arguing for a political solution in all hotspots," Sinha said in response to a question from The Telegraph. "But I don't think they are referring to root causes of terrorism. If that were the case, they would not support the CCIT (the Comprehensive Convention against International Terrorism, the India-sponsored proposed UN law that Pakistan is critical of)." By evening, even Pakistan joined the Brics debate - and a parallel conversation on terrorism at the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec) that Modi also hosted in Goa today. "Mr Modi is misleading his Brics and Bimstec colleagues," Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's top foreign policy adviser Sartaj Aziz said. "Pakistan joins all the members of Brics and Bimstec in condemning terrorism and reaffirms its full commitment to fight the menace of terrorism without discrimination, including against the Indian state-sponsored terrorism on Pakistani soil." Unlike Modi, every other Brics leader focused on global economic concerns and on enhancing intra-Brics trade, more in keeping with the traditional role for which the grouping was created. Some, including Xi, did refer to terrorism as a major challenge - though Russian President Vladimir Putin did not mention terrorism once during his remarks at the plenary. The Brics inked a pact to ease customs regulations for companies from other grouping members, and agreed to consider setting up a credit ratings agency, while also enhancing cooperation on tax avoidance and in bringing back unaccounted wealth stashed overseas. Though the total GDP of Brics countries is nearly $17 trillion, and their total trade exceeds $6 trillion, trade between these nations amounts only to $250 billion. On Sunday, the grouping's leaders - Brazil was represented by its President Michel Temer and South Africa by its President Jacob Zuma - set a target to increase intra-Brics trade to $500 billion by 2020. At a post-summit media briefing, Indian officials tried to highlight the economic cooperation component of the Brics meetings. But Modi's repeated emphasis on terrorism over all else at his interventions during the summit meant they were questioned largely on terrorism. "Thank you," Sinha said, laughing, when a reporter asked him a question on a subject other than terrorism. "I was wondering whether this is the BRICS or the BTRICS." Sinha was referring to the omnipresence of terrorism- the T in the "BTRICS" - in the questions he was facing. But the answer he was seeking lies with the Prime Minister.