Pahalgam Mention in BRICS Declaration a Foreign Policy Win, Says Omar Abdullah

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday described the naming of Pahalgam in the BRICS New Delhi Declaration as a significant diplomatic achievement, pointing out that several countries friendly to Pakistan were present when the document was adopted.

Speaking in Srinagar, Abdullah said the inclusion of the Jammu and Kashmir terror attack in the declaration reflected the strength of India's diplomacy. "The fact that Pahalgam itself was condemned is a big thing," he said, adding that the mention of the location by name, despite the presence of Pakistan's allies in the room, amounted to a success of the country's foreign policy.

Asked why Pakistan was not named in the declaration, the Chief Minister said the matter was best addressed by the Government of India, and particularly by the Ministry of External Affairs. He chose instead to highlight what he described as the positive outcomes of the summit.

The 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi concluded with member nations unanimously adopting the 45-page New Delhi Declaration 2026, which contains 140 points. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the consensus, stating that no member had raised any objection to the document.

The declaration's 40th point states that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, irrespective of their motivation or perpetrators. The document condemns terrorism in all its forms, including cross-border terrorist activities, terror financing networks and safe havens.

It specifically censures the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, in which 26 people were killed and many more injured. The declaration calls for zero tolerance, strict accountability and the accelerated adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

The April 2025 attack near the tourist resort of Pahalgam triggered an intense four-day conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.