New Delhi, Sep 12 (KNO): BRICS leaders on Friday strongly condemned the April 22, 2025 terrorist attack in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people and injured several others, while reaffirming their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
In the New Delhi Declaration adopted at the BRICS Summit, the grouping, according to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), described acts of terrorism as "criminal and unjustifiable" regardless of their motivation and asserted that such acts must be condemned wherever and by whomever they are committed.
The leaders specifically denounced the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, in which 26 people lost their lives, and expressed solidarity with the victims and those affected.
Reaffirming their resolve to fight terrorism, BRICS countries stressed the need to combat the cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing networks and the provision of safe havens to extremist groups.
The declaration underlined that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group, and called for all individuals and entities involved in terrorist activities or support networks to be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with national and international law.
The bloc urged the international community to adopt a policy of "zero tolerance" towards terrorism and reject double standards in counter-terrorism efforts.
BRICS leaders also emphasised that states bear the primary responsibility for preventing and combating terrorism, adding that global counter-terrorism measures must remain consistent with international law, including the UN Charter, international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law.
The grouping welcomed the work of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group and its five subgroups operating under the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Action Plan, and pledged to further deepen cooperation in the field.
The declaration also called for the early finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the United Nations framework and urged concerted action against all terrorists and terrorist entities designated by the UN.
BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia. This year’s summite was chaired by India after it assumed presidency on January 01, 2026. The summit was hosted at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from September 12-13, with a galaxy of leaders and delegates from the member countries participating in it—(KNO)