XIAMEN, Sept 4 - In a significant diplomatic win for India, BRICS countries today named for the first time Pakistan-based terror groups like the LeT and the JeM for causing violence in the region and said those supporting terror acts must be held accountable.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was joined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Brazilian President Michael Temer and South African President Jacob Zuma in strongly denouncing terror activities of such groups, as they expressed determination to collectively fight the scourge.
The 43-page �Xiamen Declaration�, adopted at the end of the five-nation BRICS plenary, stressed on the need for immediate cessation of violence in Afghanistan.
It expressed �concern� over the security situation in the region and the violence caused by the Taliban, ISIS, al-Qaeda and its affiliates including Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Hizb ut-Tahrir.
Significantly, the ETIM is active in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China and seeks to establish a separate �East Turkistan�.
At the ninth Summit of the grouping, the BRICS leaders also condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever. They stressed that there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism.
�We reaffirm that those responsible for committing, organising, or supporting terrorist acts must be held accountable,� the statement said.
According to officials, Modi raised the issue of terrorism strongly at the BRICS Summit and was joined by other leaders, who expressed willingness to fight this menace.
�For the first time specific listing of terror organisations has been made (in the BRICS declaration),� Secretary (East) in the external affairs ministry Preeti Saran told reporters.
The inclusion of Pakistan-based terror groups in the declaration is also significant as it indicated a slight shift in the Chinese view towards terror groups operating out of Pakistan. � PTI
