Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 7: The Brics Parliamentary Forum has strongly condemned the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 tourists, and pledged unified efforts to combat terrorism, as per a communique released by the Lok Sabha Secretariat on Friday.

The joint declaration was adopted at the 11th Brics Parliamentary Forum held in Brasilia, Brazil. The forum included 10 member nations India, Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. The Indian delegation was led by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

“The joint declaration strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, and member parliaments agreed to act collectively against terrorism,” the communique stated. It further added that Speaker Birla called for coordinated international action to disrupt terror financing, enhance intelligence sharing, prevent the misuse of emerging technologies by terrorists, and foster cooperation in investigations and judicial proceedings.

India’s clear and firm position on counter-terrorism was widely acknowledged and supported by other member nations.

In his address, Birla also highlighted India’s perspective on crucial global issues, including the need for a just and balanced international order, responsible use of technology, democratic dialogue, and global partnerships in innovation.

The two-day forum, which concluded on June 5, included discussions on key global challenges such as artificial intelligence, international peace and security, inter-parliamentary collaboration, and economic cooperation.

Marking a significant development, Om Birla was handed over the chairmanship of the forum at the conclusion of the session. India will now host the 12th Brics Parliamentary Forum next year.
“India will play an active role in deepening cooperation among Brics parliaments and in fostering a unified response to emerging global challenges,” the official statement said.

The terror attack at Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on April 22 had led to a major escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan. In response, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Over 100 terrorists were neutralised in the operation, which led to four days of intense cross-border strikes before military actions were halted following a mutual understanding on May 10.