Pabitra Banerjee : The BRICS member countries unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration on the opening day of the 18th BRICS Summit in the national capital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the adoption of the joint statement, highlighting consensus across member nations on key international challenges.
The declaration strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms, explicitly referencing the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, and pushed for the early adoption of the UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
It also focused heavily on conflict prevention, calling for the peaceful resolution of international disputes through diplomacy and dialogue. Addressing global economic concerns, the bloc raised serious objections to unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that distort trade, while urging the immediate restoration of a fully functioning WTO dispute settlement mechanism. Furthermore, leaders emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms within the United Nations Security Council and major financial institutions to better represent the Global South.
Meanwhile, on the sidelines of domestic updates, Thupstan Chhewang—the former BJP MP for Ladakh—publicly accused climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and other civil society members of misleading the people of the Union Territory.
Chhewang countered the negative narrative being spread by parts of the delegation, asserting instead that the September 9 talks between Ladakhi leaders and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) were highly “fruitful”. He maintained that significant ground was covered on crucial administrative frameworks and constitutional safeguards, cautioning that abrupt protests could revive avoidable tensions in the region.
