In a significant diplomatic breakthrough for India, the BRICS bloc on July 6 issued a strong condemnation of the April 22 Pakistan sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam, J&K marking an unprecedented move by the multilateral group to name and denounce a specific act of terrorism on Indian soil. The declaration, adopted during the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, was seen as a major win for Indian diplomacy, especially given the participation of China, a long-time ally of Pakistan.
Clause 34 of the Rio de Janeiro Declaration unequivocally condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed and dozens more injured, calling it “criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed.” The statement reaffirms BRICS’ unified stand against terrorism “in all its forms and manifestations,” including cross-border terrorism, financing, and safe havens, key concerns India has consistently raised in international forums.
BREAKING: BRICS CONDEMNS PAHALGAM TERROR ATTACK
Joint statement: pic.twitter.com/bdi1J2QW6t
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) July 6, 2025
What makes this declaration especially noteworthy is the consensus achieved despite China’s historical reluctance to endorse positions critical of Pakistan. Beijing’s acquiescence to the explicit mention of the Jammu and Kashmir attack is being hailed as a shift, however subtle, in BRICS’ internal dynamics, where India’s growing strategic weight and the expanded nature of the bloc have begun to realign priorities.
The declaration further emphasized that terrorism must not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group, and that perpetrators and their supporters “must be held accountable and brought to justice.” It welcomed the ongoing work of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group and called for the expeditious finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations.
India’s success at the summit comes despite growing tensions between New Delhi and Beijing and at a time when China’s support for Pakistan and terrorists on various international platforms has remained a challenge for humanity. By managing to steer BRICS toward a clear and named condemnation of a terror incident in Kashmir, India has scored a significant geopolitical point.
The broader summit, held under the theme “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” also focused on global governance reforms, AI regulation, and multilateral cooperation. But for India, the unequivocal stand on terrorism, with global South backing, was a major achievement.
