In a strong diplomatic endorsement of India’s stand against terrorism, leaders of BRICS nations on Sunday unequivocally condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, vowing to combat all forms of terrorism, including cross-border movement, terror financing, and safe havens. The condemnation came through the Rio de Janeiro Declaration issued at the 17th BRICS Summit underway in Brazil.
The declaration called the massacre of 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir an unjustifiable act of terrorism and reaffirmed the group’s unified stance on eliminating terror threats in accordance with international law. The victims included Indian and Nepalese nationals, selectively targeted by Pakistan-based terrorists affiliated with The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the UN-banned Lashkar-e-Taiba.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025,” the declaration stated. “We reaffirm our commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing and safe havens.”
The BRICS leaders emphasized that terrorism must not be linked to any religion, ethnicity, or nationality, and stressed the need to hold perpetrators accountable. They warned against selective or inconsistent approaches to terrorism, asserting that zero tolerance and unified global cooperation are essential.
Highlighting the work of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group and its five subgroups, the declaration noted progress under the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Action Plan. It also called for the speedy adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism under the UN framework.
The declaration aligns with India’s recent calls at international forums, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), for decisive action against Pakistan-backed terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. During a meeting of SCO Security Council Secretaries in Beijing, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval reiterated India’s demand to dismantle state-supported terror networks and to bring their leaders, financiers, and sponsors to justice.
The BRICS statement is seen as a significant milestone for India, reinforcing its global counter-terrorism efforts in the wake of Operation Sindoor, a cross-border response that targeted terrorist infrastructure following the Pahalgam attack.
