The BRICS summit has made a significant statement to the world-not only in diplomatic parlance but also in terms of strategic resolve-by issuing a strong and unequivocal condemnation of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The “Rio de Janeiro Declaration” adopted by the influential bloc-comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa-echoes India’s longstanding call for a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism. In a world increasingly fragmented by geopolitical rivalries and domestic compulsions, this unified stance sends a critical message: the fight against terrorism can no longer be marred by double standards, strategic ambiguity, or selective outrage. What makes this development even more notable is the sharp contrast it presents to the recently concluded SCO summit, where no joint statement could be issued owing to a lack of consensus-largely attributed to differing views on terrorism. The BRICS grouping has now demonstrated that when political will exists, consensus is possible, even among states with competing interests.
India, which has been a frontline victim of Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terror, has every reason to see the BRICS declaration as a diplomatic breakthrough. Since the mid-1980s, India has battled an unrelenting wave of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond, investing billions of dollars in building an extensive counter-terrorism and security grid. Despite persistent efforts to highlight the global threat posed by terrorism, India’s concerns were long overlooked-until the 9/11 attacks in the United States served as a grim global wake-up call. Even then, many parts of the world continued to approach terrorism through a prism of strategic utility, often differentiating between “good” and “bad” terrorists based on geopolitical needs.
The BRICS statement, therefore, is a significant moral and political vindication for India. The inclusion of China, which has often been accused of shielding Pakistan diplomatically, underscores that back-channel diplomacy and India’s persistent advocacy are making headway. The statement also calls for action against all UN-designated terrorist groups and safe havens, clearly reflecting India’s core demands. The unity shown by BRICS also carries symbolic weight for the Global South, many of whom have been unheard on any platform, caught between the politics of the powerful and the silence of the complicit. The institutions of the 20th century cannot address the challenges of the 21st-a sentiment that is resonating more strongly as nations from the Global South rise in geopolitical relevance.
But symbolism alone isn’t enough. Reforms must be real, visible, and structural, not just tokenistic. Terrorism remains the most pressing non-traditional security threat in today’s world. If institutions such as the UN, WTO, and multilateral development banks are to retain relevance, they must ensure they are no longer used as platforms to shield terror sponsors through procedural loopholes and geopolitical trade-offs.
India has already shown it is prepared to act unilaterally when required, whether through surgical strikes, the Balakot airstrikes, or, more recently, Operation Sindoor. But India is also aware that sustainable impact requires a coalition of willing nations that not only condemn terrorism but also act decisively against its sources of funding, ideology, and shelter. In this light, India’s ongoing strategy to name and shame Pakistan at every international forum and to lobby for its isolation is both necessary and justified.
Moreover, no one can ignore India’s emergence as one of the fastest-growing major economies and an indispensable trade partner. The fact that BRICS-a group that includes India’s adversaries and allies-has stood united on the terrorism issue is perhaps the most telling sign yet that India’s pain is finally being understood. The final nail in the coffin of terrorism will not be driven through words alone but through relentless diplomatic engagement, strategic partnerships, and collective action. India has repeatedly warned that unless the world unites to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from its roots-wherever it festers-peace, development, and cooperation will remain elusive goals.
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