Pakistan seeks BRICS membership, despite India roadblock: Analysis

Pakistan has formally requested membership in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) grouping of emerging economies. Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign ministry, stated that Pakistan believes joining BRICS will allow the country to play a significant role in promoting international cooperation and inclusive multilateralism. Baloch also expressed hope that BRICS would move forward with Pakistan’s request. Pakistan has warm ties with most BRICS members.

The request for membership comes after Muhammad Khalid Jamali, Pakistan’s designated envoy to Russia, revealed in an interview with TASS, the Russian state-owned news agency, that Pakistan has applied to join BRICS. Many analysts see BRICS as challenging the dominance of the United States and its Western allies in global policy decisions.

During the latest BRICS summit held in South Africa, at least 40 countries expressed interest in joining the group. Following the summit, it was announced that in the coming year six countries, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran, would become part of BRICS.

Mushahid Hussain Sayed, chairperson for the Pakistani Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee, commended Pakistan’s move and stated that regional, economic, and cultural unions such as BRICS would benefit Pakistan. Salma Malik, an associate professor at Qauid-e-Azam University, also supported Pakistan’s membership request, emphasizing the advantages of participating in smaller blocs and building consensus.

However, foreign policy analyst Muhammad Faisal expressed skepticism about the potential benefits of Pakistan’s BRICS membership. Faisal mentioned the challenging and lengthy process involved in admitting new members and the potential opposition from India, which could depend on the India-China relationship. He noted that Pakistan’s participation in a policy dialogue event at a previous BRICS summit was blocked by a member country, widely believed to be India.

Sayed criticized India for potentially hindering Pakistan’s membership and accused India of siding with the American or Israeli camp in the current Middle East crisis. He stated that India would be on the wrong side of history in the larger global south.

Analysis:
The article presents Pakistan’s formal request to join BRICS and includes statements from Pakistani officials and experts regarding the potential benefits of membership. The sources for this information include the spokesperson for Pakistan’s foreign ministry, the designated envoy to Russia, chairperson for the Pakistani Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee, an associate professor, and a foreign policy analyst. The article also mentions the previous incident where Pakistan’s participation in a BRICS event was blocked.

In terms of credibility, the article relies on quotes from Pakistani officials and experts, which add a degree of legitimacy to the news. However, the absence of quotes or comments from officials of other BRICS countries or any counterarguments from opposing viewpoints limits the overall reliability of the report.

There are potential biases in the article, particularly in the quotes from Pakistani officials. The spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, emphasizes the positive aspects of Pakistan joining BRICS and expresses hope that the group will move forward with their request. Mushahid Hussain Sayed and Salma Malik also support Pakistan’s membership and praise the government’s decision. Conversely, Muhammad Faisal raises skepticism about the benefits of membership and highlights potential challenges and opposition from India.

The impact of this article may be limited due to the lack of diverse viewpoints and the reliance on quotes from sources that align with Pakistan’s interests. Without input from officials from other BRICS countries or any opposing arguments, readers may not be presented with a comprehensive understanding of the potential implications and challenges of Pakistan joining BRICS.

Given the political landscape and the prevalence of fake news, the public’s perception of the information presented in this article may vary depending on their existing biases and beliefs. Media coverage and public debates can further shape the understanding of Pakistan’s membership request in BRICS, and the political dynamics between Pakistan and India may influence the interpretation of the article. The lack of a comprehensive presentation of facts and diverse perspectives raises concerns about the potential for misinformation or a limited understanding of the topic.

Source: Aljazeera news: Pakistan seeks BRICS membership, despite India roadblock