Pakistan issues response to BRICS’ statement

ISLAMABAD (NNI): In response to a question regarding the BRICS’ leaders summit document, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said Tuesday that Pakistan is also seriously concerned about the threat posed by terrorism and extremism in the South Asian region.

The BRICS leaders in a declaration said, “We, in this regard, express concern on the security situation in the region and violence caused by the Taliban, (Islamic State)…, Al-Qaeda and its affiliates including Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, TTP and Hizb ut-Tahrir,” the leaders said in the declaration.

The Pakistan Foreign Ministry said many terrorist groups based in the region, including in Afghanistan, such as the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and its associates like Jamiat ul Ahrar (JuA) have been responsible for extreme acts of violence against Pakistani people.

“We are deeply concerned at the presence of groups like Daesh, ETIM and IMU in the ungoverned spaces in Afghanistan as they pose a threat to peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

“Pakistan also remains concerned at the rise of extremist ideologies and intolerance in the region encouraging social stratification and systematic targeting of minorities,” according to the statement.