BRICS member countries have collectively condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack of 22 April 2025 and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening counter-terrorism cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on 24 May 2025. The condemnation came at the 11th Annual BRICS Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) Plenary and Sub Groups' Meetings, held in New Delhi on 21–22 May under India's chairmanship.

Key Developments at the New Delhi Meetings

The two-day plenary also marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the BRICS CTWG, underscoring a decade of multilateral counter-terrorism engagement. Senior counter-terrorism officials from all 10 BRICS member countries participated, with the plenary preceded by meetings of five thematic Sub Groups.

Vinod Bahade, MEA Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), chaired the working sessions. The discussions spanned the full spectrum of counter-terrorism cooperation, addressing both existing and emerging threats.

What India Said

Ambassador Sibi George, MEA Secretary (West), delivered the keynote address on the inaugural day, stressing the importance of 'collective and united efforts of the BRICS member countries to tackle the global menace of terrorism.' He urged member nations to make the BRICS CTWG 'a more resilient, constructive, innovative, inclusive and result-oriented Working Group,' according to the MEA statement.

Ambassador George thanked BRICS partners for extending solidarity to India following the Jammu and Kashmir Pahalgam attack, and reiterated India's policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism. He specifically flagged cross-border terrorism as a pressing concern, calling for 'concerted and united efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.'

Emerging Threats on the Agenda

Beyond the Pahalgam condemnation, member countries discussed evolving challenges including terror financing mechanisms, radicalisation pathways, and the exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. These themes reflect a broader global shift in how non-state actors are adapting tactics — a concern that has grown across multilateral forums in recent years.

This is the 11th such plenary since the CTWG's formation, and the first held after the Pahalgam attack, giving the meeting added political weight within the bloc.

Significance and What Comes Next

India's chairmanship of the BRICS CTWG this year positions New Delhi as the convener of the bloc's counter-terrorism agenda at a moment of heightened bilateral tensions in South Asia. The MEA's statement signals that India secured explicit, collective condemnation of the Pahalgam attack from all member states — a diplomatic outcome with implications beyond the working group itself.

The bloc's next steps on operationalising these commitments — particularly on information sharing and terror-financing interdiction — will be closely watched by security analysts tracking South Asia's evolving threat landscape.