The 18th BRICS summit concluded in New Delhi on Sunday on a high note. India, as the host nation, deserves credit for gathering a galaxy of leaders from the Global South and hammering out a declaration with a unanimous nod from all the member states involved. While the world will see these accomplishments as a major diplomatic success for India, something more deserves greater attention and appreciation: India becoming a pivot in the world divided by wide-ranging and years-old conflicts shaking the global economy and geopolitical stability .India has moved from its position as the leading voice of the Global South to a pivot for lasting peace in the world—the most precious strategic necessity of our times. India is now a leader in steering efforts within a global community currently witnessing and bleeding from serial conflicts ranging from Russia-Ukraine to the Middle East. It is the only country that maintains strong relations with China, Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia on one side, and America and Israel on the other.India is not only a bridge between two worlds divided by conflicts; it is also on its way to leading the Global South, not in isolation, but in potential partnership with the West. Certain parameters make this abundantly clear, such as the way the world has rallied behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for zero tolerance against terrorism. While he initially used this term for terrorist entities within the country, particularly in the context of Jammu and Kashmir, it has now transformed into a worldwide campaign. This stands as a strategic commitment against all forms and manifestations of terrorism.

This BRICS summit echoed the Indian standpoint in the clearest terms when the leaders from the member states accepted and supported the stance against terrorism. They agreed to the statement condemning the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22, 2025—not merely as a matter of record of their presence and signature, but also as a sign of their unequivocal support for what India did to avenge the attack. It must be noted that when the world condemns the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed by Pakistani terrorists in the Baisaran meadow (also reckoned as “Mini Switzerland” because of its mesmerizing beauty), this is not just a condemnation of an incident of devilish savagery. It is also a form of support for the counter-terrorism operation that India undertook when it launched “Operation Sindoor” to destroy terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.This particular paragraph in the declaration says it all:

“We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April 2025, during which 26 people were killed and many more injured. We reaffirm our commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing, and safe havens. We reiterate 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. We urge to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering terrorism. We emphasize the primary responsibility of States in combating terrorism and that global efforts to prevent and counter terrorist threats must fully comply with their obligations under international law, including the Charter of the UN, in particular the purposes and principles thereof, and relevant international conventions and protocols, in particular international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law, as applicable.”

This is one of the most important takeaways from the summit. It is indeed a stand against Pakistan and its terrorism-centric foreign policy, where it uses the export of cross-border terrorism to gain geopolitical influence, but something larger has also been accomplished. It is not a statement against Pakistan in the strictest form of words, but rather against the terrorism it promotes, which hurts its own people the most. It is a formulation that tells the world that terrorism can uproot national and international ethos and destroy communities at large. This is a universally relevant message, and India has emerged as an undisputed leader in the world—the loud, clear, and leading voice against terrorism. Ask any country what they fear most, and they will say terrorist growth and cross-border terrorism. It can lead to bigger dangers, including nuclear clashes or something close to it.

There are Western commentators who are keen to sow seeds of confusion and chaos between China and India. They refuse to see these two Asian giants in one frame. Their effort is always directed at seeing each of these two neighboring countries edging the other out of the picture. They find it difficult to reconcile Delhi and Beijing as they continue to recall the history and geography of the unresolved conflict between the two neighboring nations. How could it happen that two countries engaged in one of the most serious military standoffs on the LAC for over four and a half years—from April 2020 to October 2024—are now discussing and implementing the idea of a close partnership and shared interests, both in their bilateral relations and their worldview of global concerns and resolutions?Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was also in the delegation of President Xi Jinping that traveled to Delhi for the BRICS summit last weekend, made a striking remark that stems all the biased political and diplomatic narratives showcasing differences. He said: “India and China were partners, not rivals.”As far as the border issue is concerned—on the resolution of which Prime Minister Modi insisted and emphasized in very categorical terms during his meeting with Xi Jinping last Saturday—Wang Yi echoed the sentiment. Wang Yi stated that both leaders had agreed to maintain peace along the border, deepen cooperation, and support each other’s BRICS presidencies. His words indicated that the relations have moved from a “restart to an elevated elevation.” 

(DAILYWORLD )