ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, in pursuit of BRICS membership, has reached out to Russia for assistance, as revealed by Muhammad Khalid Jamali, the Pakistani envoy to Moscow, local media reported on Thursday.
Jamali, awaiting his presentation of credentials to President Putin, disclosed Islamabad’s application to join BRICS during an interview with TASS, expressing reliance on Russia’s support.
The envoy emphasized Pakistan’s application for BRICS membership, aiming to join the forthcoming expansion with six new members, ideally under Russia’s upcoming presidency. Expressing Pakistan’s eagerness to join the significant organization, Jamali mentioned ongoing efforts to secure backing from member nations, particularly the Russian Federation.
Although the Foreign Office has yet to issue a statement, The News speculated that Jamali’s disclosure likely wouldn’t have occurred without the FO’s awareness.
BRICS recently extended invitations to Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, marking an expansion aimed at reinforcing the group’s geopolitical stature against Western-dominated forums like the G7 and the World Bank.
The expansion aligns with BRICS’ objective of fostering diversity in a world grappling with polarization, notably amid geopolitical tensions such as Russia’s actions in Ukraine and strained US-China relations.
Pakistan’s bid for membership coincides with its exclusion from a recent South Africa summit. The country earlier confirmed the obstruction of its invitation to a development dialogue in China by a member state of BRICS, without explicitly naming the country.
