In a declaration adopted at the ongoing summit in Rio de Janeiro late on Sunday night, the BRICS leaders condemned the Pahalgam terror attack “in the strongest terms”, and called for “combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing and safe havens”.
While the declaration did not take any names, the cross-border terror reference is seen to be aimed at Pakistan.
Addressing the BRICS session on peace and security, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Pahalgam was a “direct attack on the soul, identity and dignity of India”. He said “giving silent consent to terrorism, supporting terror or terrorists” for “personal or political gain” should not be acceptable under any circumstances, and “there should be no hesitation in imposing sanctions against terrorists”.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, during which 26 people were killed,” the BRICS declaration said, referring to the Pahalgam attack.
“We urge to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering terrorism,” it said, amplifying the Indian government’s message as conveyed by the multi-party political delegations sent to world capitals earlier.
“We call for an expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN framework. We call for concerted actions against all UN designated terrorists and terrorist entities,” the resolution said.
In the past, China has blocked attempts to sanction Pakistan-based terrorists and terrorist groups at the UN.
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In his speech, Modi said: “Terrorism has become the most serious challenge for humanity today. Recently, India faced an inhuman and cowardly terrorist attack. On April 22, the terrorist attack in Pahalgam was a direct attack on the soul, identity and dignity of India. This attack was a blow not only on India but on the entire humanity. In this hour of grief, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the friendly countries who stood with us, who expressed support and condolences.”
“Condemning terrorism should be our ‘principle’, not just a ‘convenience’. If we first see in which country the attack took place, against whom, then it would be a betrayal against humanity. There should be no hesitation in imposing sanctions against terrorists. Victims and supporters of terrorism cannot be weighed on the same scale. For personal or political gain, giving silent consent to terrorism, supporting terror or terrorists, should not be acceptable under any circumstances. There should be no difference between words and actions regarding terrorism. If we cannot do this, then the question naturally arises whether we are serious about the fight against terrorism or not,” he said.
Addressing the session on ‘Reform of Global Governance’, Modi said: “Two-thirds of humanity still lack proper representation in global institutions built in the 20th century. Many countries that play a key role in today’s global economy are yet to be given a seat at the decision-making table. This is not just about representation, it’s also about credibility and effectiveness. Without the Global South, these institutions are like a mobile phone with a SIM card but no network. They’re unable to function properly or meet the challenges of the 21st century.”
“The expansion of BRICS and the inclusion of new partners reflect its ability to evolve with the times. Now, we must demonstrate the same determination to reform institutions like the UN Security Council, the WTO, and Multilateral Development Banks. In the age of AI, where technology evolves every week, it’s unacceptable for global institutions to go eighty years without reform. You can’t run 21st-century software on 20th-century typewriters,” he said.
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The BRICS declaration also called for a “comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries in the Council’s memberships so that it can adequately respond to prevailing global challenges and support the legitimate aspirations of emerging and developing countries from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including BRICS countries.”
“We stress that the United Nations Security Council reform will lead to the amplified voice of the Global South. We reiterate support to the aspirations of Brazil and India to play a greater role in the United Nations, including its Security Council,” the declaration said.
The BRICS grouping includes India, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran. The two-day summit began on Sunday.
