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BENAULIM (GOA): China blocked India's attempts to include the names of terror groups like JeM and LeT in the BRICS' Goa Declaration but what has hurt the government more, as sources said, is Russia's disinclination to argue India's case. The result, of course, was a declaration which failed to address India's core concern of the issue of state-sponsored terrorism.
What compounded the matter for India was Russia's recent military flirtation with Pakistan in the name of anti-terror exercise. In current global power play, Russia is seen increasingly as needing China more than the other way round, but Moscow's submission to the Chinese position on an issue related to India's security still has come as a revelation to the Indian authorities.
While Russia did not help India name-check JeM, which perpetrated both Pathankotand Uri attacks, in the Goa Declaration, it ensured that Syria-based Jabhat al-Nusra figured in it. As it seeks to bolster the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, Russia has continued to target al-Nusra, which it accuses of seeking a Caliphate through barbaric methods, in the country. Like the Nusra, JeM and LeT too are proscribed by the UN. Russia called for "relentless pursuit'' of al-Nusra in the declaration.
As strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney said, Moscow appeared willing to accommodate India's concerns in the Goa Declaration but, in the face of Chinese opposition, shied away from supporting India's case.
"The result was that the declaration failed to mention the most potent form of terrorism in the world, which is state-sponsored. And while citing groups like ISIS and al-Nusra, the declaration conveniently omitted any mention of the Pakistan-based organizations that the UN has designated as terrorist entities," he said, adding that the "anodyne" declaration called into question the utility of Brics for India.
With Russia doing precious little for India, China could shield Pakistani terrorism not only at the UN Security Council but also at a multilateral summit on Indian soil. In doing so, as Chellaney said, China rode roughshod over Indian concerns and showed itself culpable in the killing of 26 Indian soldiers at Uri and Pathankot.
While Russia itself has been the clear winner in terms of BRICS' focus on security related issues, China continues to call the shots on financial issues, leading to questions about the utility of Brics for India.
"China uses BRICS to advance its economic and political interests, including dominating the two financial mechanisms that the grouping has set up. But what does India get from BRICS?" said Chellaney.
"Goa showed that while China manages to get its own way, even at India's expense, Indian officials do little other than put on a brave face. Even earlier, when China secured the right instead of India to host the Brics' New Development Bank, Indian officials were left flaunting a consolation prize -- an Indian to be the Bank's first president," he added.
The Goa Declaration came just a day after President Vladimir Putin assured PM Narendra Modi in their summit meeting that Russia would do nothing to hurt India's interests. As MEA secretary Amar Sinha admitted, there was no consensus on naming Pakistan-based terror groups because other countries are not affected by their actions.
Moscow also had its full say on Syria as the declaration called upon all parties involved to work for a comprehensive and peaceful resolution of the conflict taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, through inclusive national dialogue and a Syrian-led political process.
"While continuing the relentless pursuit against terrorist groups so designated by the UN Security Council, including ISIL, Jabhat al-Nusra, and other terrorist organisations designated by the UN Security Council,'' said the declaration.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...looked-the-other-way/articleshow/54903013.cms
What compounded the matter for India was Russia's recent military flirtation with Pakistan in the name of anti-terror exercise. In current global power play, Russia is seen increasingly as needing China more than the other way round, but Moscow's submission to the Chinese position on an issue related to India's security still has come as a revelation to the Indian authorities.
While Russia did not help India name-check JeM, which perpetrated both Pathankotand Uri attacks, in the Goa Declaration, it ensured that Syria-based Jabhat al-Nusra figured in it. As it seeks to bolster the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, Russia has continued to target al-Nusra, which it accuses of seeking a Caliphate through barbaric methods, in the country. Like the Nusra, JeM and LeT too are proscribed by the UN. Russia called for "relentless pursuit'' of al-Nusra in the declaration.
As strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney said, Moscow appeared willing to accommodate India's concerns in the Goa Declaration but, in the face of Chinese opposition, shied away from supporting India's case.
"The result was that the declaration failed to mention the most potent form of terrorism in the world, which is state-sponsored. And while citing groups like ISIS and al-Nusra, the declaration conveniently omitted any mention of the Pakistan-based organizations that the UN has designated as terrorist entities," he said, adding that the "anodyne" declaration called into question the utility of Brics for India.
With Russia doing precious little for India, China could shield Pakistani terrorism not only at the UN Security Council but also at a multilateral summit on Indian soil. In doing so, as Chellaney said, China rode roughshod over Indian concerns and showed itself culpable in the killing of 26 Indian soldiers at Uri and Pathankot.
While Russia itself has been the clear winner in terms of BRICS' focus on security related issues, China continues to call the shots on financial issues, leading to questions about the utility of Brics for India.
"China uses BRICS to advance its economic and political interests, including dominating the two financial mechanisms that the grouping has set up. But what does India get from BRICS?" said Chellaney.
"Goa showed that while China manages to get its own way, even at India's expense, Indian officials do little other than put on a brave face. Even earlier, when China secured the right instead of India to host the Brics' New Development Bank, Indian officials were left flaunting a consolation prize -- an Indian to be the Bank's first president," he added.
The Goa Declaration came just a day after President Vladimir Putin assured PM Narendra Modi in their summit meeting that Russia would do nothing to hurt India's interests. As MEA secretary Amar Sinha admitted, there was no consensus on naming Pakistan-based terror groups because other countries are not affected by their actions.
Moscow also had its full say on Syria as the declaration called upon all parties involved to work for a comprehensive and peaceful resolution of the conflict taking into account the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria, through inclusive national dialogue and a Syrian-led political process.
"While continuing the relentless pursuit against terrorist groups so designated by the UN Security Council, including ISIL, Jabhat al-Nusra, and other terrorist organisations designated by the UN Security Council,'' said the declaration.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...looked-the-other-way/articleshow/54903013.cms