Forum condemns Pahalgam terror attack and seeks UNSC reforms

Why in the News

Parliamentarians of the BRICS countries have gone beyond condemning terrorism in general to condemning by name the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, opened by the Lok Sabha Speaker at Parliament House in New Delhi, adopted a Joint Declaration saying so as it closed. The declaration also sought reform of the United Nations (UN), including the Security Council.

What did the forum agree on terrorism?

1. What the forum is: A two-day meeting of legislators from BRICS member countries. This edition drew Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
2. General condemnation: The declaration called any act of terrorism criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of motive, place or perpetrator.
3. Pahalgam attack: It condemned “in the strongest terms” the attack of April 2025, which killed 26 people and injured many more.
4. Cross-border terrorism: Members committed to combat the cross-border movement of terrorists, terror financing and safe havens (territory where terrorists shelter beyond the reach of the State they attack).
5. The takeaway: A forum spanning rival political systems has named an attack on Indian soil and committed its members to act against cross-border terrorism.

What else did the declaration seek?

1. Terrorism treaty: It called for the expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), a proposed UN treaty on terrorism.
2. No religious link: Terrorism should not be tied to any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group. Perpetrators and their supporters must face justice under national and international law.
3. West Asia: It expressed deep concern at escalating tensions after the United States (US)-Israel war with Iran, and called for maximum restraint.
4. United Nations reform: It stressed the urgency of reforming the international peace and security architecture, backing comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council.

Why does the declaration matter for India?

1. No double standards: A forum that included China and Iran urged zero tolerance for terrorism. It rejected double standards, meaning one rule for some attacks and another for others.
2. India’s treaty push: India proposed the CCIT at the UN, so a BRICS-wide call to adopt it backs an Indian demand.

Challenges

1. Non-binding text: BRICS has no charter or permanent secretariat, so a forum declaration creates no obligation on any member government.
2. Diverse political systems: Democracies and autocracies sit together, so agreeing on joint declarations is hard.
3. India-China friction: The border dispute between two members limits the grouping’s strategic cohesion.
4. Fear of Chinese dominance: Members worry the grouping could become a vehicle for China’s geopolitical and economic interests.

Way Forward

1. Aligned terror listings: BRICS governments should coordinate their positions on designating terrorists under UN sanctions.
2. Annual review: BRICS parliaments should review members’ action against terror financing and safe havens at each forum.
3. Government follow-through: BRICS governments should carry the forum’s terrorism language into their own summit declarations.

Conclusion

The declaration gives India multilateral backing on terrorism and UN reform from a forum that spans rival political systems. Whether BRICS governments turn this parliamentary language into binding action at the UN is the test to watch.

Back2Basics: BRICS

1. Origin: BRICS began in 2006 as BRIC and was renamed in 2010 when South Africa joined.
2. Expansion: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the UAE joined in 2024, and Indonesia in 2025.
3. India’s chairship: India holds the BRICS chair for 2026 and hosted the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September.

Matching Previous Year Question

“[2025] Consider the following statements with regard to BRICS: I. The 16th BRICS Summit was held under the Chairship of Russia in Kazan. II. Indonesia has become a full member of BRICS. III. The theme of the 16th BRICS Summit was Strengthening Multiculturalism for Just Global Development and Security. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) I and II (b) II and III (c) I and III (d) I only ANSWER: (a)”