At BRICS Summit, PM Modi calls Pahalgam attack a crime against humanity
New Delhi, Jul 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack during his address at the 17th BRICS Summit, calling it "an attack not just on India, but on the entire humanity." Speaking in Rio de Janeiro alongside fellow BRICS leaders, PM Modi urged for unified global action against terrorism, the elimination of safe havens, and an end to double standards in counterterror efforts. The Leaders’ Session concluded with the adoption of the Rio de Janeiro Declaration, a wide-ranging document that emphasised collective commitment to global security, financial transparency, support for Palestine, and reform of global governance institutions.
A unified condemnation of terrorism
Paragraph 34 of the declaration singled out the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people and injured many more, as a heinous act. BRICS nations unequivocally condemned the assault and reaffirmed their determination to combat terrorism "in all its forms and manifestations," including cross-border terrorism and the financing of extremist networks. "We express strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed," the declaration stated, reinforcing a collective stand that has long been sought by India on international platforms.
Prime Minister Modi, while thanking the BRICS leaders for the strong language in the statement, called for “zero tolerance” towards terrorism and warned against the global cost of selective approaches. He stressed that those who fund or shelter terrorists must face the full weight of global justice.
In another key component of the declaration, BRICS nations pledged to intensify their efforts against illicit financial flows, including those used to fund terrorism and organised crime. The leaders emphasised the need to prevent misuse of cryptocurrencies and emerging technologies for illegal purposes, including terror finance, money laundering, and cybercrime. The declaration supported capacity building in developing nations and advocated for international cooperation to be based on technical expertise and devoid of politicisation. PM Modi echoed these concerns in his address, underlining the need for resilient financial frameworks that can withstand misuse in a technology-driven era.
The BRICS bloc also issued a firm reprimand to recent military strikes on Iran, describing them as violations of international law and the UN Charter. Expressing grave concern over the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East or West Asia, the leaders condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure and peaceful nuclear sites, and called on the UN Security Council to urgently address the matter.
Turning to Palestine, the declaration voiced strong opposition to continued Israeli military operations in Gaza and the obstruction of humanitarian aid. It condemned violations of international humanitarian law, including the use of starvation as a weapon, and called for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire. The declaration reaffirmed BRICS support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and stressed the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination, including statehood.
Reforming Global Governance
Earlier, PM Modi in his remarks on global governance, reiterated India’s long standing demand for reform of multilateral institutions like the UN Security Council, IMF, and World Bank. “The architecture built in the 20th century cannot solve the problems of the 21st,” he said, calling for an inclusive, multipolar world order that reflects contemporary realities. The Rio Declaration acknowledged the urgency of these reforms and included stronger-than-usual language supporting expansion of permanent representation for developing countries in global decision-making bodies.
PM Modi also proposed a four-point plan for strengthening BRICS cooperation. PM Modi offered four suggestions: one, the BRICS New Development Bank must follow demand driven principle and long-term sustainability for granting projects; two, the group consider setting up a Science and Research repository which could benefit the global south countries; three, focus must be given to make the supply chain of critical minerals secured and resilient; and, four, the group should work for responsible AI - while looking into the concerns of AI governance, it should also give equal importance to promoting innovation in the field.
As the world grapples with growing polarisations and regional conflicts, the 2025 BRICS Summit has attempted to assert the bloc’s relevance as a counterweight to existing global institutions. With the Rio Declaration in hand, the grouping has outlined an ambitious, yet aspirational, roadmap for a more equitable and secure world order.
BRIC, as a formal grouping, started after the meeting of the Leaders of Russia, India and China in St. Petersburg on the margins of the G8 Outreach Summit in 2006. The grouping was formalised during the 1st meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of UNGA in New York in 2006. The 1st BRIC Summit was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in 2009.
It was agreed to expand BRIC into BRICS with the inclusion of South Africa at the BRIC Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York in 2010. Accordingly, South Africa attended the 3rd BRICS Summit in Sanya in 2011. A further expansion of BRICS took place in 2024 with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE becoming full members of BRICS from 1 January 2024. In January 2025, Indonesia became a full member of the BRICS, while Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam joined as partner countries of the BRICS.
