New Delhi: The BRICS Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi concluded with a strong condemnation of the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, marking a significant diplomatic outcome for India during its 2026 BRICS Chairship. In the joint outcome document adopted after the two-day meeting, the ministers “condemned in the strongest terms” the attack in which 26 people were killed and several others injured. The grouping reaffirmed its commitment to combating terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations,” including cross-border terrorism, terror financing and safe havens.
The document stated that terrorism should not be linked to “any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group” and stressed that those involved in terrorist activities and their support networks “must be held accountable and brought to justice” in accordance with international law.
The ministers also called for “zero tolerance for terrorism” and rejected “double standards in countering terrorism,” language seen as aligning with India’s long-standing position on state-backed terrorism. Importantly for New Delhi, the statement underlined the need for concerted action against all UN-designated terrorists and terrorist entities and called for the early finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) within the United Nations framework — a proposal India has pushed for decades.
The BRICS ministers further welcomed the activities of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group and expressed support for deepening cooperation on counter-terrorism measures among member states.
The meeting, held under India’s BRICS Chairship theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” also focused extensively on reforming global governance institutions, strengthening multilateralism and amplifying the voice of the Global South. On geopolitical issues, the ministers expressed concern over the worsening situation in West Asia, particularly Gaza, Sudan and Syria, while reiterating support for diplomacy, humanitarian access and peaceful conflict resolution. However, the document acknowledged that there were “differing views” among members regarding the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
The ministers also renewed calls for reform of the UN Security Council and reiterated support for a greater role for developing countries, including India and Brazil, in global decision-making institutions. China and Russia, both permanent members of the Security Council, reiterated their support for the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a larger role in the UN, including the Security Council.
The document strongly criticised unilateral sanctions and protectionist trade measures, backed reforms in the IMF and World Bank, and stressed the importance of preserving an open, rules-based multilateral trading system centred on the WTO.
The ministers also discussed cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital public infrastructure, climate action, food security, energy transition, cyber security and resilient supply chains as key priorities under India’s chairship.
The meeting concluded with the ministers expressing full support for India’s leadership of BRICS in 2026 and committing to work together for the success of the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi.
