Pakistan’s BRICS Bid Stalls for Three Years as India’s Opposition Blocks Entry

Pakistan formally applied for BRICS membership in 2023. The grouping originally comprised five countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—and was formed as a group of emerging economies. Last year, the bloc admitted Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates as four new members. Pakistan, however, did not gain entry.

According to an NDTV report, 29 countries have applied to join BRICS, with Pakistan among them. Pakistan’s efforts to become part of the grouping are largely driven by its economic challenges. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey, the country recorded a GDP growth rate of 3.70 per cent.

Consensus among all existing BRICS members is required to admit a new member. As a result, India’s opposition has remained an obstacle that Pakistan has so far been unable to overcome. Pakistan is facing economic difficulties and had hoped that BRICS membership would provide new financial options and greater economic cooperation with major economies. India’s opposition, however, has prevented those efforts from succeeding, leaving Pakistan outside the grouping despite applying three years ago.

According to a Nikkei Asia report, Pakistan has purchased a 0 million stake in the New Development Bank associated with BRICS. The move was aimed at exploring new avenues for funding and reducing Pakistan’s dependence on the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, or IMF.

Pakistan applied to join BRICS at a time when the grouping’s influence in the Global South was continuing to expand. Following its expansion, BRICS includes nearly 49 per cent of the world’s population. On a purchasing power parity, or PPP, basis, the group represents around 40 per cent of the world’s GDP.

India’s trade with BRICS countries has also increased significantly. India’s exports to these countries rose 48.8 per cent, from $64.3 billion to $95.7 billion.

In November 2023, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Office said at a press conference that Pakistan wanted to join the major Global South grouping. The spokesperson also said that Pakistan had good relations with most BRICS members. Islamabad described BRICS as an important grouping of developing countries and officially confirmed that it had applied for membership.

Pakistan also received support from Russia and China. Muhammad Khalid Jamali, Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia, told Russian news agency TASS in an interview that Pakistan was trying to secure support from member countries for its bid. He specifically spoke about seeking support from Russia.

Despite support from Russia and China, Pakistan has still not secured entry into BRICS. The key obstacle remains India’s objection. Since the admission of any new member requires the consent of all existing members, even one country’s opposition can prevent entry. For Pakistan, India’s continued opposition has therefore remained the central barrier to its BRICS membership bid.