The North News
New Delhi, July 7
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a strong pitch for global unity against terrorism, telling world leaders at the 17th BRICS Summit in Brazil that the international community must show “zero tolerance” and impose sanctions without hesitation on those who support or shelter terrorists. Speaking at the Peace and Security session, Modi directly referenced the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, calling it “a blow not just to India, but to the whole of humanity.”
“There can be no double standards in dealing with terrorism. Victims and sponsors of terror cannot be weighed on the same scale,” Modi said.
The BRICS leaders – representing Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – condemned the Pahalgam attack in the strongest terms, with the declaration adopted in Rio underscoring terrorism as one of the gravest threats to global peace. “The Global South has often been at the receiving end of double standards. There must be fairness and equity in international decision-making,” Modi said, renewing his call for reform in global institutions.
During the Summit’s inaugural session on “Reform of Global Governance and Peace and Security,” Modi argued that legacy institutions such as the UN Security Council, World Bank, IMF, and WTO are outdated and out of step with 21st-century realities. He urged that developing nations, particularly from the Global South, must be given a larger say in shaping global policies.
The Prime Minister also expressed concern over widening geopolitical instability, mentioning ongoing conflicts in West Asia and Europe. He said India remains committed to diplomacy and dialogue as the preferred path to resolution.
At a separate session focused on multilateralism, economic affairs, and artificial intelligence, Modi underlined the importance of embracing diversity and multipolarity in the current global order. He put forward four key proposals include BRICS’s New Development Bank must prioritise long-term, demand-driven development projects, a new repository for science and research should be established to support innovation in the Global South, resilient supply chains for critical minerals must be secured, artificial intelligence must be governed responsibly, with equal emphasis on innovation and ethical oversight, the Rio de Janeiro Declaration, adopted at the conclusion of the Summit, included strong language supporting UN Security Council reforms and a commitment to collective action on issues ranging from development to digital transformation, Modi also thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for his hospitality and for steering what he described as “a successful and forward-looking summit.”
