The group, which criticized Israel for its warfare in Gaza this week, is more and more seen because the main voice of the International South.
Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan has formally utilized for membership BRICSthe grouping of 5 rising economies that features rival India together with Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, at a time when the physique is quickly gaining standing because the main bloc of the International South.
Calling BRICS an “vital group of creating international locations”, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for Pakistan's international ministry, revealed that the nation has made a “formal request” to affix the group.
“We consider that from joining the BRICS, Pakistan can play an vital function in advancing worldwide cooperation and revitalizing complete multilateralism. We additionally hope that BRICS will transfer ahead with Pakistan's request in step with its dedication to complete multilateralism,” Baloch mentioned whereas addressing a information convention in Islamabad on Thursday.
The spokesman added that Pakistan had heat ties with “most” BRICS members.
The affirmation comes two days after Muhammad Khalid Jamali, Pakistan's envoy-designate to Russia, revealed that the nation has utilized to affix the group in an interview with TASS, Russia's state information company.
“Pakistan want to be a part of this vital group and we’re within the strategy of contacting member international locations to supply help for the membership of Pakistan on the whole and the Russian Federation particularly,” the ambassador instructed TASS.
Many analysts see the BRICS as difficult a world order dominated by america and its Western allies in vital political selections.
Over the last BRICS summit that passed off in South Africa in August, the group's recognition was evident with at the least 40 international locations displaying curiosity in becoming a member of.
On the finish of the three-day summit, the group introduced that six states – Egypt, Ethiopia, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran – will be a part of it subsequent 12 months.
Mushahid Hussain Sayed, chairman of the Pakistani Senate International Affairs Committee, was in South Africa earlier this 12 months to attend occasions that passed off on the sidelines of the management summit.
“The world is shifting in the direction of regionalism and now international locations are cooperating to attach with one another,” Al Jazeera mentioned, welcoming the federal government's transfer to affix the physique.
Salma Malik, an affiliate professor at Qaid-e-Azam College in Islamabad and an skilled on strategic points, additionally agreed with Sayed and mentioned that “regional, financial and cultural unions” can be helpful for Pakistan.
“It is a time of multilateralism. You’re heard higher on small boards and might voice bigger issues. You may construct widespread consensus on varied problems with concern,” the educational instructed Al Jazeera.
Earlier this week, the BRICS international locations – together with the six that may take part 2024 – joined a digital assembly the place they virtually unanimously referred to as for a ceasefire in Israel's warfare in Gaza.
Nonetheless, Muhammad Faisal, a international coverage analyst, didn’t share their enthusiasm.
“Realistically talking, apart from repeating political statements equivalent to Pakistan being sad with the Western-led world order, there can be no vital features,” he instructed Al Jazeera.
Faisal additional mentioned that whereas the nation has sought to affix the group, its membership was certainly not sure.
“The highway forward for Pakistan is now fairly difficult and lengthy. It includes a substantial diploma of politics among the many founding members for the induction of latest members. Pakistan's case is especially surrounded by Indian opposition, which can rely on the well being of India-China relations,” he added.
The issues usually are not unfounded. Final 12 months in June, Pakistan's international workplace mentioned its participation in a significant political dialogue occasion, which passed off on the sidelines of the BRICS management summit in China, was blocked by “a member”.
Whereas Pakistan didn’t title India as a rustic, it expressed hope that the bloc's future engagement can be based mostly on the rules of “inclusiveness” and within the pursuits of the creating world.
If India performs “spoiler” over Pakistan's membership bid, Sayed mentioned, it will solely add to the string of such incidents.
“Be it cricket, diplomacy or politics, India will all the time trigger obstacles. However they aren’t the one recreation on the town,” he mentioned.
“The present Center East disaster has proven that India is extra within the American or Israeli camp than a part of the bigger world south. “In case you take a look at the large image, India is on the mistaken facet of historical past.”