Birla at BRICS Forum: Egypt backs India on Pahalgam attack, Belarus ties strengthened
Synopsis
On the eve of India's hosting of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla secured Egypt's vocal backing against the Pahalgam terror attack and pushed for tighter banking and legislative ties with Belarus — signalling that India is using the BRICS platform for pointed bilateral diplomacy, not just multilateral optics.
Key Takeaways
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Egyptian MP Sameh Shoukry on 25 October 2026 , thanking Egypt for condemning the Pahalgam terror attack .
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation through Parliamentary Friendship Groups and expand ties in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and industry .
Birla separately met Vadim Ipatov , Deputy Speaker of Belarus , focusing on banking linkages, legislative exchanges, and capacity building.
India and Belarus are approaching the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027 .
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is scheduled for 26-27 October at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan , New Delhi, under India's chairship.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday, 25 October 2026, conveyed India's appreciation to Egypt for its strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, meeting Sameh Shoukry, Member of Parliament and Head of the Egyptian delegation, on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026 in New Delhi. Birla underscored the urgency of coordinated global action against terrorism during the bilateral exchange.
India-Egypt Parliamentary Engagement
The two sides explored avenues to deepen bilateral parliamentary cooperation through Parliamentary Friendship Groups and agreed to expand collaboration in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and industry. Birla invoked the shared heritage of both nations, referencing the 'enduring bonds between two ancient civilisations' and the renewed momentum in India-Egypt relations following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic visit to Egypt in 2023.
In a post on X, Birla quoted: 'I also conveyed my appreciation for Egypt's strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and emphasised the importance of united global efforts to combat terrorism.' He expressed confidence that stronger parliamentary ties would advance 'shared aspirations for peace, progress and prosperity.'
Belarus Bilateral: Banking Ties and Legislative Exchange
Separately, Birla met Vadim Ipatov, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Belarus, for talks centred on strengthening parliamentary exchanges, sharing legislative best practices, and capacity building. A notable focus was on forging stronger banking linkages between the two countries to facilitate trade and economic growth.
With India and Belarus approaching the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, Birla expressed confidence that closer parliamentary engagement and greater coordination on global issues would inject fresh momentum into the bilateral partnership. India's commitment to amplifying the voice of the Global South through multilateral platforms, including BRICS, was also highlighted during the talks.
12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum: What to Expect
The Parliament of India is set to host the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum on 26-27 October at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi, under India's chairship. The forum will bring together parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries to deliberate on people-centric development and the strengthening of parliamentary cooperation.
This comes amid a broader Indian diplomatic push at multilateral forums to build consensus on counter-terrorism and Global South priorities — themes that have featured prominently in India's BRICS chairship agenda this year.
Context: Pahalgam Attack and India's Diplomatic Outreach
The Pahalgam terror attack has become a significant reference point in India's recent diplomatic engagements, with New Delhi consistently seeking international solidarity and condemnation of cross-border terrorism. Egypt's formal censure of the attack, as highlighted by Birla, reflects India's effort to build a broad multilateral consensus against terrorism ahead of high-profile parliamentary gatherings. Notably, these back-to-back bilateral meetings signal India's intent to use the BRICS forum not merely for multilateral dialogue but also for targeted bilateral diplomacy with partner and member nations.
Point of View
Particularly on counter-terrorism. Securing Egypt's public backing on Pahalgam is meaningful because Egypt is an emerging BRICS partner state, lending the condemnation a multilateral flavour. The Belarus meeting's emphasis on banking linkages is telling — with Western financial channels constrained by geopolitics, India is quietly building alternative trade pipelines with non-Western partners. Whether these parliamentary-level signals translate into concrete economic and security outcomes remains the real test of this diplomatic choreography.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Om Birla meet the Egyptian delegation ahead of the BRICS Forum?
Birla met Egyptian MP Sameh Shoukry to convey appreciation for Egypt's condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack and to discuss strengthening India-Egypt parliamentary ties. The meeting took place on 25 October 2026, on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi.
What is the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum 2026?
It is a gathering of parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, hosted by the Parliament of India on 26-27 October 2026 at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, New Delhi, under India's chairship. The forum focuses on people-centric development and strengthening parliamentary cooperation.
What was discussed between Birla and the Belarus Deputy Speaker?
Birla and Belarus Deputy Speaker Vadim Ipatov discussed parliamentary exchanges, legislative best practices, capacity building, and stronger banking linkages to facilitate bilateral trade and economic growth. The talks also touched on India's Global South agenda within BRICS.
Why is India highlighting Egypt's condemnation of the Pahalgam attack?
India has been actively seeking international solidarity on counter-terrorism following the Pahalgam terror attack, and Egypt's formal condemnation strengthens New Delhi's effort to build a broad multilateral consensus. With Egypt now a BRICS partner state, its backing carries added diplomatic weight at the forum.
When do India and Belarus mark their diplomatic anniversary?
India and Belarus will mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027. Birla expressed confidence that stronger parliamentary and economic engagement ahead of this milestone would give fresh momentum to the bilateral partnership.
