In an important geopolitical development, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk made two significant announcements during his visit to Islamabad: first, Russia welcomes Pakistan’s application to the BRICS membership, and second, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) may be connected to the BRI. These announcements were clearly aimed at sending a message to New Delhi.
Experts like Prof. Rajan Kumar of JNU argue that India should firmly oppose Pakistan’s entry unless clear membership rules are established, while independent political analyst Dr. Aparaajita Pandey highlights 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.
In conversation with Financial Express Online, Prof Rajan Kumar, School of International Studies, JNU said: “Russia’s announcement to support Pakistan’s entry to BRICS must be viewed against the backdrop of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine in August 2024. Moscow is trying to state that New Delhi’s ties with Ukraine will have repercussions. Moscow tried to ameliorate the situation by modifying the statement that a consensus had to be reached regarding the entry of Pakistan into BRICS. However, the fact that Russia welcomes Pakistan is tantamount to ignoring India’s concerns.”
