"Zero Tolerance For Terrorism": Pahalgam Mention In BRICS New Delhi Declaration - NDTV

**BRICS Leaders Condemn Pahalgam Attack, Reaffirm “Zero Tolerance” for Terrorism**

New Delhi – The 2026 BRICS summit concluded on Saturday with a joint declaration that singled out the deadly assault on civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, as a stark reminder of the need for a unified, “zero‑tolerance” approach to terrorism. The 15‑minute statement, signed by heads of state from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, described the attack – which left 12 people dead and several injured when gunmen opened fire on a popular tourist spot – as “an affront to the values of peace and security that the BRICS bloc upholds.” By explicitly referencing the Pahalgam incident, the declaration marked the first time a BRICS communique has named a specific terrorist act, signalling India’s growing influence in shaping the group’s security agenda.

India’s foreign ministry highlighted the declaration as evidence of “collective resolve” to combat cross‑border terrorism, while also calling for enhanced intelligence sharing, joint training exercises, and stronger legal frameworks to curb extremist financing. Analysts note that the language mirrors New Delhi’s own counter‑terrorism legislation passed earlier this year, which expands surveillance powers and tightens penalties for terror‑related offences. The inclusion of Pahalgam, a high‑profile target that attracted international media attention, underscores India’s demand that the BRICS platform address security challenges affecting its neighbourhood, and serves as a diplomatic signal to neighbouring Pakistan, which has long been accused of harboring militants operating in the region.

The declaration also ventured beyond security, urging “maximum restraint” in the ongoing Middle‑East conflict and criticizing unilateral actions by the United States that, according to the communique, “undermine global stability.” While reaffirming support for Iran’s sovereign right to self‑defence, the text called for an immediate cease‑fire between Israel and Hamas, emphasizing that regional wars threaten the smooth flow of global trade—a priority for the bloc’s largely export‑driven economies. Observers see the document as a litmus test of BRICS cohesion: it balances criticism of Western policies with a pragmatic pledge to protect trade corridors, and it reflects India’s nuanced shift toward a more assertive, yet multilateral, foreign policy stance within the group.

---