In a resounding vindication of India’s position on the scourge of terrorism, the 10-nation BRICS grouping strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and called for combating the cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing and safe havens, a shorthand for Pakistan’s support for terrorism.
The Rio de Janeiro Declaration came after intense diplomatic spadework by New Delhi to include a strong denunciation of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s hard-hitting speech, asking the world to refrain from double standards on terrorism.
“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,” said the Rio de Janeiro Declaration. “We urge to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering terrorism,” said the Rio Declaration, echoing words of PM Modi during his remarks at a session on peace and security at the BRICS summit.
“Condemning terrorism must be a matter of principle, and not just of convenience. If our response depends on where or against whom the attack occurred, it shall be a betrayal of humanity itself,” PM Modi said.
Asking the world to shed ambiguity and sophistry on terrorism, PM Modi raised the bar and underlined that “there must be no hesitation in imposing sanctions on terrorists.” Rebutting attempts by Pakistan and its supporters to seek a false moral equivalence, the Indian leader said: “The victims and supporters of terrorism cannot be treated equally. For the sake of personal or political gain, giving silent consent to terrorism or supporting terrorists or terrorism, should never be acceptable under any circumstances.”
The BRICS’ collective support for India’s battle for justice for the victims of the Pahalgam massacre is significant as it’s the only specific terror attack named in the Rio de Janeiro Declaration. The BRICS’ strongly-worded formulation on the Pahalgam terror attack stood out in stark contrast to a declaration by SCO Defence Ministers recently that contained no reference to the attack in Jammu and Kashmir, allegedly at the behest of China and Pakistan. This underlined BRICS cohesion on the issue on terrorism as opposed to politicisation of the issue in SCO, thereby highlighting the relevance of BRICS for its larger global agenda.
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