BRICS Leaders Condemn Pahalgam Massacre; Demand Justice For Victims

BRICS leaders condemned the 22 April 2025 massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, in their ‘Rio de Janeiro Declaration’ adopted on the opening day of the 17th BRICS Summit.

Calling the Pakistan-backed attack ‘criminal’, BRICS vowed to combat cross-border terrorism, financing, and safe havens.

Zero tolerance for terrorism: BRICS

The declaration stated, “We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025. We reaffirm our commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms.”

Leaders insisted that states bear primary responsibility for counter‑terrorism and demanded ‘zero tolerance’ and an end to ‘double standards’ in dealing with extremist groups.

Push for comprehensive UN convention

BRICS urged the UN to fast-track the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism and act against all UN-designated terrorists.

BRICS also vowed to deepen cooperation through its Counter‑Terrorism Working Group and five specialized subgroups.

India hails diplomatic victory

PM Narendra Modi welcomed the united stand, posting on X, “There must be absolutely no hesitation in imposing sanctions against terrorists. We cannot weigh victims of terrorism and its supporters on the same scale. Any silent support or approval to terrorism for personal or political interests must be unacceptable.”

Investigations traced the Pahalgam assault to The Resistance Front, a front for Lashkar‑e‑Taiba.

Although Pakistan has applied for BRICS membership, leaders left the request in abeyance, and the final statement avoided naming Pakistan directly—reportedly to secure consensus with Beijing.

BRICS leaders condemned ISIL and Al-Qaeda attacks in Syria and warned against terrorists’ use of cryptocurrency.

The summit resumes in Rio today to discuss steps for enforcing counter-terrorism pledges and boosting global cooperation.

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