Brics leaders condemn Pahalgam attack; PM Modi calls for sanctions against terrorists

In what is being seen as a diplomatic achievement for India, the BRICS nations on Sunday strongly condemned the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam  that killed 26 people.

In a joint declaration issued after the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the leaders called the assault “criminal and unjustifiable,” and reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms. The bloc — comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and new member states called for united global action to root out terrorism and emphasised the importance of cooperation under international law.

“We express strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed. We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, during which 26 people were killed and many more injured. 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,” it said.

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“We urge to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering terrorism. We emphasize the primary responsibility of States in combating terrorism and that global efforts to prevent and counter terrorist threats must fully comply with their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations,” it added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also asserted that the victims and supporters of terrorism cannot be “weighed on the same scale”.

PM Modi’s call for imposing sanctions on terrorists without hesitation comes against the backdrop of China blocking efforts at the UN Security Council in recent years to list several Pakistan-based terrorists.

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“For personal or political gain, giving silent consent to terrorism, supporting terror or terrorists, should not be acceptable under any circumstances,” he said.

“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 asked.

The top leaders of BRICS held deliberations on a range of pressing challenges facing the globe on the first day of the grouping’s two-day annual summit in this seaside Brazilian city.