BRICS for fighting terrorism, name LeT, JeM

Janjivan Bureau / Xiamen (China): BRICS countries on Monday called for a comprehensive approach to combat terrorism and expressed concern over violence by groups including Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) that have staged attacks in India.
The declaration adopted by BRICS countries at their 9th Summit here deplored all terrorist attacks worldwide, including in BRICS countries.  They condemned “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever” and stressed that “there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism”.
The BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — backed the efforts of the Afghan security forces to defeat terrorism.
“We express concern on the security situation in the region and violence caused by the Taliban, ISIL/DAISH, Al Qaeda and its affiliates including Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP and Hizb ut-Tahrir,” the declaration said.
The BRICS countries said that those responsible for committing, organising or supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable. Recalling the primary leading role and responsibility of states in preventing and countering terrorism, they stressed the necessity to develop international cooperation, including that of sovereign equality of states and non-interference in their internal affairs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday emphasized the need for cooperation among the BRICS member nations for peace and development.
“Cooperation is important for peace and development. A strong BRICS partnership on innovation and digital economy can help spur growth, promote transparency and support the SDGs (sustainable development goals),” Modi said while speaking at the plenary session of the bloc’s three-day summit here.
He started his address by thanking Chinese President Xi Jinping for the warm reception and excellent organisation of the 9th edition of the annual summit.
The Prime Minister stressed on accelerating cooperation in smart cities, urbanisation and disaster management – continuing the dialogue at Goa in India during the last summit. “We are in mission-mode to eradicate poverty, to ensure health, sanitation, skills, food security, gender equality, energy, education,” he emphasised.
He said that the BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa — can work closely with the International Solar Alliance to strengthen the solar energy agenda and that affordable, reliable and sustainable access to energy is crucial for development of nations.
“Renewable energy is particularly important,” Modi added.
Appreciating a boost in people-to-people exchanges, Modi stated that such inter-mingling would consolidate their links and deepen their understanding.
He said that BRICS has developed a robust framework for cooperation, contributing stability and growth in a world drifting towards uncertainty.
Modi welcomed cooperation for capacity building between BRICS and African countries in areas of skills, health, infra, manufacturing and connectivity.
Modi, who arrived in Xiamen on Sunday for the summit, said: “Our Central Banks must further strengthen their capabilities and promote co-operation between the Contingent Reserve Arrangement and the IMF.”
He urged for early creation of a BRICS rating agency to cater to financing needs of sovereign and corporate entities of developing countries.
The Prime Minister stressed on the women’s empowerment programmes as productivity multipliers, saying it would lead to “mainstream women in nation building.”
“Our endeavours today touch diverse areas of agriculture, culture, environment, energy, sports, and ICT (Information and Communication Technology),” he added. Apart from the BRICS members, Egypt, Kenya, Tajikistan, Mexico, and Thailand have been invited by China as special guests for the summit.
Modi and Xi are to meet on the sidelines of the BRICS summit on Tuesday to discuss a range of issues.