In a pointed diplomatic exchange, Shashi Tharoor- Chair of India鈥檚 Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs- told his Russian counterpart that Pakistan continues to provide safe haven to terrorist groups. Speaking during a high-level meeting with Leonid Slutsky, head of Russia鈥檚 Duma Committee on International Affairs, Shashi Tharoor emphasized that Islamabad cannot be overlooked when discussing regional stability.
鈥淭here is a country that provides safe haven for these terrorist groups. They have their headquarters. They train terrorists in their country. They fund them, arm them, and send them to other countries,鈥 Shashi Tharoor said, adding, 鈥淪o it is hard for us to ignore the fact that they do have patronage in Pakistan.鈥
Though Pakistan is not a member of BRICS, it has formally applied to join the bloc, with Russia expressing support. However, the decision on admitting new members lies with the consensus of existing BRICS countries, including India.
Leonid Slutsky, echoing Moscow鈥檚 broader BRICS outreach strategy, said, 鈥淚ndia is a key member of BRICS. It is essential that we begin serious discussions about developing a parliamentary dimension within BRICS in the near future.鈥 He noted that the initiative is already being pursued via the Inter-Parliamentary Union, where a 鈥楤RICS Plus鈥 group has been formed.
The two lawmakers also exchanged views on the Ukraine war. Leonid Slutsky defended Moscow鈥檚 actions by referencing Kyiv鈥檚 refusal to honour the Minsk agreements, placing the blame on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following which Shashi Tharoor asked, 鈥淎re we close to the end of the conflict in Ukraine, or will it last indefinitely?鈥
To this, Leonid Slutsky responded, 鈥淭he problem is not us, but Zelenskyy.鈥