Kashmir Impulse Desk
New Delhi, Sep 12
BRICS leaders condemned the April 2025 militant attack in Pahalgam and called for zero tolerance towards cross-border terrorism, demanding that the perpetrators and their sponsors be brought to justice.
The declaration, adopted on Saturday at the BRICS summit in New Delhi, said terrorism was criminal and unjustifiable regardless of its motivation, location or perpetrators.
The April 22 attack at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam killed 26 people, mostly tourists, and injured scores, the declaration said.
BRICS members reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms, including by tackling the cross-border movement of militants, terrorist financing and safe havens.
“Terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group,” the declaration said, adding that those involved in terrorist activities and their support networks should be held accountable under relevant national and international law.
The leaders urged countries to maintain zero tolerance towards terrorism and reject double standards in countering it, while stressing the primary responsibility of states in fighting terrorist groups.
They also called for the swift adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism under the United Nations framework and coordinated action against UN-designated terrorist groups and individuals.
The declaration welcomed the work of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group and called for greater cooperation among member states to counter extremism and radicalisation, particularly among young people.
Beyond terrorism, the leaders expressed concern over illicit financial flows, proceeds from drug trafficking, money laundering and the misuse of virtual assets.
They also highlighted the spread of organised scam networks and cross-border fraud operations, saying such groups increasingly exploit digital technologies, payment systems and vulnerable people.
The bloc called for coordinated international action to dismantle such networks, recover criminal proceeds, protect victims and prevent the misuse of financial institutions and emerging payment systems for large-scale fraud.
BRICS members urged closer cooperation among financial intelligence units, customs and law enforcement agencies, tax authorities, telecom providers and technology platforms to disrupt complex money-laundering operations.
