Pakistan’s attempt to join BRICS hit a massive roadblock when it was not named as a partner country in the group’s expansion. India’s opposition is seen as a key reason for Pakistan’s exclusion from the emerging collective representing the Global South.
India, a founding member alongside Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa, has reportedly taken a firm stand against Pakistan’s inclusion in the bloc. Since BRICS operates on a consensus basis for admitting new members, India’s stance has effectively blocked Pakistan’s entry into the bloc, despite the support of some founding nations like Russia and China.
Pakistan’s leadership had been optimistic that its close ties with these countries might help secure membership, but India’s apparent virtual veto (breaking the consensus) dashed those hopes.
By seeking BRICS membership, Pakistan aimed to align with powerful global economies and elevate its standing within the Global South. Many Politicians and Experts in Pakistan believed that joining BRICS could offer significant economic and diplomatic advantages.
However, given the strained ties with India over the past five years, it was unlikely that New Delhi would support Pakistan’s inclusion.
Many Diplomates and Experts expressed that India should firmly oppose Pakistan’s entry unless clear membership rules are established, while many independent political analysts highlighted the broader geopolitical implications, particularly the growing ties between Russia, China, and Pakistan.
With BRICS expanding to include countries with strong connections to China, Pakistan’s potential membership raises complex questions about South Asian dynamics, Russia’s evolving alliances, and the future direction of BRICS as a non-Western global economic bloc.
From India’s perspective, it was considered that BRICS has saved Russia from isolation, and India has played a significant role in building a non-Western narrative in Russia’s favour. India should not come under external pressure on BRICS’ membership to Pakistan at this point. The membership issue is to be decided by consensus, and Pakistan will have to consider India’s concerns before it acquires membership to BRICS. India should be willing to negotiate with Pakistan on this issue.
Russia already snubbed Pakistan recently
Russia, the current BRICS chair, has snubbed Pakistan’s case for entry into the BRICS, mentioning that there is no consensus on the country’s application.Alexei Overchuk, one of the Russian Deputy PMs, visiting Islamabad ahead of the BRICS Summit in October indicated on Wednesday that there is no consensus for Pakistan’s application for BRICS. “We are happy that Pakistan has applied. BRICS and SCO are brotherly organisations to support each other but at the same time there needs to be a consensus, to make those decisions. We have seen significant enlargement of BRICS,” Overchuk told reporters in Islamabad.
Sources told ET that Pakistan (though backed by China) does not fit into the emerging markets category, primary criteria for BRICS membership or partner status. Pakistan with a fledgling economy does not fit into a group of top and emerging economies, sources pointed out. The October 22-24 BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, will decide on the BRICS partner mechanism.
