BRICS' declaration likely to include Pahalgam attack
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New Delhi: The BRICS summit leaders' declaration on July 7 under Brazil's presidency could include references to the Pahalgam attack and global terror infrastructure, people aware of the development told ET.This will be a boost for India, which is trying to rally the international community toward joint action on terrorism. ET has learnt that after intense negotiations in the run-up to the summit, the BRICS grouping — Brazil, Russia, India, Russia, China, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia — has agreed to include most of India's references to the Pahalgam terror attack in the leaders' statement.An official of one of the BRICS member states, who did not wish to be named, said that the group has always found a mechanism to arrive at a consensus and produce a common language or approach on critical issues like terrorism. Another official said BRICS is working on a formulation that conveys its stance on international terror.At the recent defence ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), only one country blocked any reference to the Kashmir terror attack, external affairs minister S Jaishankar had remarked, without naming Pakistan. India did not sign the joint statement and, therefore, the document could not be adopted.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will reach Rio de Janeiro for the BRICS summit on July 5 — his third stop in the five-nation tour — will emphasise the need for a strong anti-terror formulation by the BRICS in his interventions at the summit, ET has learnt.India will take over the BRICS presidency from Brazil after the Rio Summit.In June, the parliaments of BRICS nations had strongly condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack and agreed to cooperate on a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had led the Indian delegation to the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Brasilia on June 4-5. Besides the Pahalgam terror attack, India's leadership in the BRICS Startup Forum is also likely to be adopted by the leaders. The BRICS Startup Forum aims to promote cross-border collaboration among the member nations through entrepreneurial activities. The BRICS Startup Knowledge Hub was launched on January 31 this year as part of the Startup Forum.The BRICS Startup Knowledge Hub (microsite) is the first-ever BRICS Startup Knowledge Repository, which lays the foundation for multilateral cooperation and engagement among the BRICS countries to develop startup ecosystems. The Knowledge Hub will serve as a one-stop gateway to the BRICS startup ecosystem, offering valuable insights into the entrepreneurial landscapes of the member countries.Besides the BRICS summit, Modi will make a state visit to Brazil, and the two nations are expected to conclude several pacts, including in the areas of defence and counter-terrorism.Modi is likely to meet other BRICS leaders on the sidelines of the summit, including from South Africa, Indonesia, the UAE, Ethiopia and possibly Iran, besides the BRICS partner countries.
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