New Delhi: Today’s events at the BRICS summit are bound to sting Pakistan. Due to India’s opposition, Pakistan has suffered a major setback even from China regarding the issue of terrorism. China has also consented to the summit declaration, which condemns the Pahalgam terror attack and calls for holding accountable those who support terrorist activities.
Although Pakistan is not explicitly named in the declaration, it is no secret that Pakistan has been harbouring terrorists. On the other hand, the friendship between China and Pakistan is often described as a “brotherhood”; in recent years, China has been viewed as a staunch supporter of Pakistan.
China is believed to have its own strategic interests behind this stance. It relies on Pakistan to gain access to the Arabian Sea. Yet, when the Pahalgam terror attack was condemned at the BRICS summit, and a policy of “zero tolerance” against such acts was advocated, China fully agreed.
Pakistan suffers a blow due to China’s consent.t
A terror attack took place in Pahalgam last April, claiming 26 lives. The BRICS New Delhi Declaration strongly criticises and condemns this attack. It also calls for action against the cross-border movement of terrorists, support for terrorism, and the existence of safe havens.
While Pakistan is not explicitly named in the declaration, it clearly states that those involved in terrorism and their supporters must be held accountable.
Public condemnation of the Pahalgam attack
The Pahalgam attack was publicly condemned at the BRICS summit, but the New Delhi Declaration holds greater significance. This declaration comes at a time when India and China are striving to normalise relations following the 2020 Galwan clash. The condemnation of the Pahalgam attack from the very platform where President Xi Jinping was present marks a significant diplomatic shift. It is evident that Beijing no longer stands by Pakistan on every single issue.
What is China’s biggest concern?
It is worth noting that the primary reason for the growing unease between China and Pakistan is not India, but rather the safety of China’s own citizens. Over the past few years, there have been numerous attacks on Chinese engineers and personnel associated with CPEC projects in Balochistan and other regions.
These incidents have heightened Beijing’s concerns. China is continuously pressuring Pakistan to ensure the security of Chinese citizens and projects. On several occasions, projects have even had to be temporarily halted following such attacks. This has not eased China’s concerns.
