IANS
Beijing, June 19: Without naming Pakistan or any other nation, Foreign Ministers of BRICS countries Monday asked the countries accused of supporting terrorism to stop financing terrorists and their activities after India raised the issue at the meeting of the five-member bloc here.
In a joint media note, the Foreign Ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, deplored “the continued terrorist attacks, including in some BRICS countries” and condemned “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever”.
The ministers reaffirmed the solidarity and resolve of the BRICS nations in the fight against terrorism and called upon the international community to establish a broad international counter-terrorism coalition and to support the UN’s coordinating role in international counter-terrorism cooperation. “They recall the responsibility of all states to prevent financing of terrorist networks and terrorist actions from their territories,” the note said.
Earlier India, represented by Minister of State for External Affairs V.K. Singh said the five-nation bloc needed to cooperate on counter-terror measures.
India has been urging the UN to put sanctions against and designate as an international terrorist Pakistan-based terrorist leader Masood Azhar, accused of masterminding several terror attacks in India, including the January 2016 strike on a military base in Punjab that killed at least seven security personnel.
But the Indian move has been blocked by China that holds a veto in the UN Security Council.
The Foreign Ministers also reaffirmed the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN and the Security Council to make it “more representative, effective and efficient”.
