Reject double standards in countering terrorism, fail to agree on West Asia
RK News Service
New Delhi, May 15: The foreign ministers of the BRICS nations condemned in the strongest terms the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir and reaffirmed their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing, and safe havens, even as the two-day conclave failed to issue a joint statement due to sharp differences over the West Asia conflict.
In the outcome document and chair’s statement issued by India as the host, the ministers expressed strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as “criminal and unjustifiable” regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever, and by whomsoever committed.
“They reiterated that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group and that all those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with relevant national and international law,” the statement said.
“They urged to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and rejected double standards in countering terrorism,” it added.
The impasse over the West Asia conflict, with sharp differences between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), prevented consensus on a joint statement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared to blame the UAE for the lack of unanimity.
“Everybody knows that which country blocked anything against Israel, and that was very unfortunate. The same country did help the US and Israel in their attack, in their aggression against Iran,” Araghchi said at a media briefing, referring to the UAE.
He alleged that the country provided US and Israeli forces with airspace, territories, and military bases, calling them “a direct party to this aggression.”
In the chair’s statement, India said: “There were differing views among some members as regards to the situation in the West Asia/Middle East region.”
The statement, spanning 63 paragraphs, highlighted a lack of total unanimity on two counts. Paragraphs 26 and 29 each carried a footnote indicating a member’s reservations.
The ministers emphasised that the Gaza Strip is an “inseparable part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” underscoring the need to unify Gaza and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. They also highlighted the “importance of ensuring the exercise of navigational rights” for all vessels in the Red Sea and Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
The BRICS foreign ministers reaffirmed their support for the State of Palestine’s full membership in the UN, made reference to the Arab Peace Initiative, and condemned “unilateral economic sanctions” directed against Western powers.
India, as the current chair of BRICS, hosted the conclave ahead of the annual summit of the grouping in September. Araghchi expressed hope that a consensus will emerge when the BRICS summit is held in India later this year.