BRICS Condemns Pahalgam Terror Attack, Urges Nations To Avoid Double Standards In Counter-Terrorism

The BRICS nations have strongly condemned the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians, calling the incident "criminal and unjustifiable." In a joint statement released on Friday during the annual meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, held on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, the member countries reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorist activities.

The statement emphasized that terrorism should not be linked to any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group. The BRICS ministers underscored that all individuals involved in terrorist activities, as well as those supporting them, must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with relevant national and international laws.

The statement appeared to contain a veiled reference to Pakistan, urging nations to avoid double standards when countering terrorism. The BRICS members-comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-highlighted the primary responsibility of states in tackling terrorism and stressed that global efforts to prevent and combat terrorist threats must fully comply with obligations under international law, including the UN Charter and relevant conventions on human rights, refugee law, and humanitarian law.

The group called for further deepening of counter-terrorism cooperation and urged the speedy finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN framework. They also advocated for coordinated action against all UN-designated terrorists and terrorist organizations.

On trade matters, the BRICS nations expressed concern over the rise of trade-restrictive measures, particularly indiscriminate tariff increases and protectionist policies, often used as coercive tools. They warned that such practices could marginalize countries in the Global South, disrupt global supply chains, reduce global trade, and introduce uncertainty into international economic and trade activities, potentially worsening existing economic disparities and affecting global development prospects.