The New Delhi Declaration 2026, adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit on 12 September 2026, strongly condemned the 22 April 2025 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people and left several others injured. The joint statement by BRICS leaders marked the grouping's most explicit condemnation of a terror strike on Indian soil and reiterated a collective commitment to zero tolerance against terrorism in all its forms.

What the Declaration states

The declaration called out terrorism as 'criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed.' It explicitly referenced the Pahalgam massacre by date and casualty count — a significant diplomatic gain for India, which has long pressed multilateral forums to name specific attacks rather than issue generic condemnations.

'We reaffirm our commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing and safe havens,' the joint text read. The wording mirrors language New Delhi has consistently pushed at the United Nations and the G20, and its inclusion in a BRICS document — a grouping that includes China — is notable.

Pahalgam attack: a brief recap

On 22 April 2025, Pakistan-backed terrorists opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam, reportedly singling out victims based on their religion. 26 civilians were killed in what was one of the deadliest targeted attacks on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years. The attack triggered a severe diplomatic standoff between India and Pakistan and led to a broad security overhaul across the Union Territory.

Rejecting double standards on terror

In a pointed passage, the BRICS leaders stressed that terrorism 'should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group' and demanded that all those involved in terrorist activities and their support networks 'must be held accountable and brought to justice.' The declaration explicitly rejected double standards in countering terrorism — a phrase India has long deployed to criticise selective global responses to cross-border terror.

The leaders further underscored that states bear the primary responsibility for combating terrorism and that all counter-terror efforts must comply with the UN Charter, international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law.

Counter-terrorism cooperation deepened

The declaration welcomed the work of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) and its five subgroups, operating under the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Action Plan. It called for further deepening of counter-terrorism cooperation among member states.

Crucially, the leaders called for the expeditious finalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) at the UN — a treaty India first proposed in 1996 and which has been stalled for decades over definitional disagreements. They also stressed the need for concerted action against all UN-designated terrorists and terrorist entities.

Terror financing and digital threats flagged

Expressing serious concern over terrorism financing, the declaration noted that illicit use of virtual assets and violations of domestic regulatory frameworks 'may adversely affect economic stability, sustainable development and the integrity of the international financial system.' The leaders also raised alarm over proliferating organised scam networks, including cross-border fraud operations that exploit digital technologies, payment systems, and vulnerable individuals.

The emphasis on countering extremism and radicalisation — 'especially among the younger generations' — alongside a commitment to sharing best practices among BRICS countries, signals a broader shift toward pre-emptive counter-radicalisation frameworks within the grouping.

With the BRICS now explicitly naming the Pahalgam attack in a consensus document, attention will turn to whether this rhetorical unity translates into tangible action — particularly around blocking terror financing channels and advancing the long-pending CCIT at the UN General Assembly.