PAKISTAN: A Vital Pan-Islamic Security and Economic Partner for BRICS

IMAGE: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif  and BRICS

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a complex relationship characterised by military cooperation, economic ties, and shared Islamic heritage. Riyadh has been vital in providing financial aid and oil to Islamabad. A recent defense agreement signed on September 17 in Riyadh highlights both nations’ commitment to regional and global security. For Pakistan, this pact offers strategic and economic benefits, but, as importantly, it enhances its role in much-needed pan-Islamic security, especially after Israel’s recent attack in Doha, Qatar. Undoubtedly, this defense pact will transform the geopolitical landscape of the region while paving the way for Pakistan’s anticipated entry into the BRICS. According to diplomatic sources, Pakistan is anticipated to join BRICS at its 18th annual summit, which is set for 2026 under the BRICS rotating chairmanship of India.

IMAGE: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the day they sign a defence agreement, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, September 17, 2025. (Source: Saudi Press Agency)

In 2023, Pakistan officially submitted its application to join BRICS, with the goal of enhancing its economic relationships with the member countries of the bloc. Previously, India had been against Pakistan’s entry into BRICS; however, a shift began to occur in 2024 during the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting held on October 15-16 in Pakistan. This meeting is the second most significant mechanism of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), convening annually to address key matters related to trade and economic collaboration, as well as to discuss the SCO’s annual budget. A week later, with a slight push from Russia, India became willing to back Pakistan’s long-desired application for BRICS membership at the 16th BRICS summit in Kazan.

On September 1st, the 25th Council of Heads of SCO Member States and the SCO plus convened in Tianjin, China, where attendees observed a notable shift in India’s foreign policy stance. The growing diplomatic and political backing from China, Russia, and other BRICS members has significantly improved Pakistan’s chances of becoming a full member. Furthermore, the recent tensions between India and the Trump administration have clarified India’s new path, which further enhances Pakistan’s chances to enter the BRICS plus family.

Last Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss global events and their bilateral relationship. Islamabad and Washington are looking into enhancing collaboration in key areas such as critical minerals, digital currency, real estate, and various other economic sectors. In a recent update on Monday, Pakistan finalised investment agreements worth $500 million with two US companies.

The importance of these strengthening ties highlights Pakistan’s geopolitical and geo-economic significance, ultimately positioning Islamabad more favorably to appease US President Donald Trump regarding Pakistan’s anticipated and imminent inclusion in the BRICS family…

Gohar Ali Khan reports for Business Recorder…

Pakistan’s BRICS membership likely by 2026

KARACHI: Pakistan is expected to become a BRICS member during its 18th annual summit in 2026, according to diplomatic sources.

Economic strategist and regional expert Dr Mehmoodul Hassan Khan quoted the diplomatic sources as saying that Pakistan is about to join BRICS in the upcoming annual meeting this year or next year.

He said inclusion of Pakistan as a full member would open a new window of opportunity to further accelerate economic partnerships, seeking more inflows of foreign direct investments (FDIs), trade diversity, enhancing qualitative industrialisation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI).

Pakistan formally applied for membership of BRICS in 2023, aiming to strengthen its economic ties with the bloc’s member states.

The BRICS cooperation mechanism includes 10 full member countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia, which officially joined in January 2025.

In addition, 11 countries currently hold observer or partner status, including Vietnam, which became a BRICS partner in June 2025.

This expanded format, often referred to as the “greater BRICS family” or “BRICS+”, reflects the growing momentum and influence of the bloc in its new 10+11 configuration.

India has previously opposed Pakistan’s inclusion in the BRICS. However, increasing diplomatic and political support of China, Russia and other members of the BRICS has brightened Pakistan’s inclusion as a full member.

Today, the BRICS family represents over half of the world’s population, accounts for 20% of global trade, and contributes nearly 30% of global gross domestic product (GDP), reflecting the growing appeal of the “BRICS spirit” of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation.

According to data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in 2024, BRICS collectively reached 4% GDP growth, significantly outpacing the global average. This demonstrates that the “greater BRICS” has become a “southern engine” that continuously fuels global development, while covering 31% of the global land area, 46% of the world’s population and 20% of global trade. Its oil production and reserves account for approximately 40% of the global energy landscape.

Spanning Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America, it brings together a rich diversity of civilisations. It augurs well that the BRICS mechanism leads to the rise of the “Global South“.

Hence, Pakistan’s inclusion would have multiplier socio-economic, geopolitical and geostrategic effects.

Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the BRICS Virtual Summit and shared his three proposals, mainly upholding multilateralism to defend international fairness and justice, and upholding openness and win-win cooperation to safeguard the international economic and trade order.

Coordinated efforts of China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa and many other important members of the BRICS forming an alternative financial and payment system are gaining momentum, and might lead to de-dollarisation.

The combined GDP of the 10 BRICS member countries is projected to exceed the global average in 2025, according to the World Economic Outlook report released in April by the IMF.

The data predicted that the grouping would reach 3.4% in GDP, while the world average would reach 2.8%. IMF data also showed that the 10-member countries of the grouping were becoming more important in the world economy than the G7, which brings together more developed nations of the European Union and North America.

Speaking about the future outlook and repercussions, in case Pakistan joins BRICS as a member, Dr Khan said Pakistan-US bilateral relations were in the right direction because Pakistan emerged as an important and trustworthy ally in South Asia, showing its strong willingness to promote regional peace and stability and international cooperation for achieving peaceful conflict resolution in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Increasing Pak-US diplomatic ties have become the new normal in the times of regional power abnormalities launched by India. Thus, the repercussions would be minimal and smaller, according to Dr Khan.

“Obviously the government and armed forces of Pakistan have been striving hard to create a strategic cushion by rebuilding sustainable diplomatic ties with the US and recent flurry visit of Field Marshal General Asim Munir to Washington DC has further strengthened ties of both the countries and resultantly the US is starting making investments in diverse sectors of economy of Pakistan mainly in metals & mining, renewables, education and health.

“Chances are very bright that the government and military brass would be in a better position to convince US President Donald Trump about its expected and imminent inclusion in the BRICS as a full member,” he said.

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Source: https://21stcenturywire.com/2025/09/18/pakistan-a-vital-pan-islamic-security-and-economic-partner-for-brics/