Rio de Janeiro: The BRICS group of emerging economies has strongly condemned the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, vowing to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and calling for unified global action without double standards.
The pledge came as BRICS leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for a key summit that also addressed global trade tensions, Middle East conflicts, and calls for reforms in international governance.
On the opening day of the two-day BRICS summit in the Brazilian seaside city of Rio de Janeiro, the leaders of the bloc, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and six new member nations unveiled the Rio de Janeiro Declaration, setting out a comprehensive agenda on terrorism, global trade, and institutional reforms.
The BRICS nations unequivocally denounced the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives and left many injured. In their declaration, the leaders reaffirmed their determination to fight terrorism in all its forms, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, financing of terrorism, and provision of safe havens.
BRICS called all acts of terrorism criminal and unjustifiable — regardless of motive, location, or perpetrator#BRICS2025 #PahalgamTerrorAttack #InternationalSecurity pic.twitter.com/tF4DW1DbCp
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) July 6, 2025
“We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. We urge the global community to adopt a zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and reject double standards,” the declaration stated.
The grouping underscored the primary responsibility of states in countering terrorism while stressing that international efforts must comply fully with international law.
The BRICS called for concerted global action against all UN-designated terrorists and urged swift adoption of the long-pending Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the United Nations framework.
The BRICS also voiced deep concern over ongoing global conflicts and the increasing polarisation in the international order. The declaration condemned recent military strikes against Iran, calling them a violation of international law and the UN Charter.
“We condemn the military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran since June 13,” the statement read, while also expressing alarm over deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities safeguarded by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Turning to global economic concerns, the BRICS leaders expressed disapproval of the rising tide of protectionism and unilateral tariff hikes, an apparent reference to US trade policies.
They warned that the indiscriminate rise of tariffs and non-tariff measures risks undermining global trade, disrupting supply chains, and injecting uncertainty into international commerce.
The declaration reiterated the bloc’s support for the multilateral trading system anchored by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and called for special and differential treatment for developing nations.
The Rio Declaration also stressed the urgent need to reform global institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and the Bretton Woods financial institutions, to better reflect the realities of the contemporary world.
The BRICS, which expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, with Indonesia joining in 2025, now represents approximately 49.5 percent of the world’s population, 40 percent of global GDP, and 26 percent of international trade, giving the bloc greater diplomatic and economic clout.
