BRICS-BIMSTEC summit first step to isolate Pak

Simran Sodhi

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 16

At the conclusion of the BRICS Summit today, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi using the forum to hit out at Pakistan, Modi welcomed leaders of the BIMSTEC countries for the BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit.

As host of this year’s BRICS, India enjoys the privilege to invite leaders of neighbouring states for this outreach. Not missing another opportunity to target Pakistan, the PM while addressing the leaders of the BRICS-BIMSTEC (a seven-nation grouping of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar and Nepal) said it was one nation that was spreading terror. “To those who nurture the philosophy of terror and seek to demoralise mankind, we must send a clear message to mend ways or be isolated,” Modi said.

Making an obvious reference to Pakistan, the PM said: “In South Asia and BIMSTEC, all nation states barring one are motivated to pursue a path of peace, development and economic prosperity.”

The fact that India chose to invite BIMSTEC nations and not the SAARC grouping points to the clear objective of keeping Pakistan out. After the September 18 Uri terror attack, India has aggressively spoken at various international fora about Pakistan’s state-sponsorship of terror. India has also adopted an approach to isolate Pakistan globally. The BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit is the perfect example of that policy.

Myanmar’s State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina along with the PMs of Nepal and Bhutan are attending the summit. The PM will also be having bilateral meetings with some of the leaders tomorrow where the focus will be on ironing out the bilateral issues.