Pakistan applied for BRICS membership in 2023 but remains outside the expanded grouping, with India’s opposition emerging as a key hurdle despite Islamabad seeking support from Russia and China.
Pakistan wants a seat at the BRICS table. It formally applied to join the grouping in 2023, has sought support from Russia and China, and even invested in the BRICS-backed New Development Bank. Yet Islamabad remains outside the bloc – with India’s opposition emerging as the biggest hurdle.
BRICS has expanded significantly since Pakistan submitted its application. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates joined the grouping, turning it into BRICS+, while the bloc now represents around 49 per cent of the world’s population and about 40 per cent of global GDP on a purchasing power parity basis.
For Pakistan, joining BRICS is also seen as a way to gain access to new economic and financing opportunities as the country struggles with economic challenges. Its GDP growth was 3.70 per cent, according to the Pakistan Economic Survey.
Pakistan Wants BRICS Membership – But India Is The Roadblock
Pakistan confirmed its formal application to join BRICS in November 2023. Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch described BRICS as an “important group of developing countries” and said Islamabad wanted to contribute to the grouping.
“We believe that by joining BRICS, Pakistan can play an important role in furthering international cooperation and revitalising inclusive multilateralism”, she said.
“We also hope that BRICS will move forward on Pakistan’s request in line with its commitment to inclusive multilateralism,” she added.
Pakistan has also been lobbying existing members for support. Pakistan’s ambassador to Russia, Muhammad Khalid Jamali, told Russian news agency TASS that Islamabad was contacting BRICS members and had approached Russia in particular for backing.
However, Pakistan’s membership bid faces a major challenge from India. BRICS decisions on admitting new members are based on consensus among existing members, meaning Islamabad cannot enter the grouping without India’s approval.