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Brics leaders condemn Pahalgam attack; PM Modi calls for sanctions against terrorists
From left, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's Premier Li Qiang pose for a group photo at the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo)
In what is being seen as a diplomatic achievement for India, the BRICS nations on Sunday strongly condemned the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
In a joint declaration issued after the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the leaders called the assault 'criminal and unjustifiable,' and reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms. The bloc — comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and new member states called for united global action to root out terrorism and emphasised the importance of cooperation under international law.
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'We express strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed. 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,' it said.
'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 United Nations,' it added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also asserted that the victims and supporters of terrorism cannot be 'weighed on the same scale'.
PM Modi's call for imposing sanctions on terrorists without hesitation comes against the backdrop of China blocking efforts at the UN Security Council in recent years to list several Pakistan-based terrorists.
'For personal or political gain, giving silent consent to terrorism, supporting terror or terrorists, should not be acceptable under any circumstances,' he said.
'There should be no difference between words and actions regarding terrorism. If we cannot do this, then the question naturally arises whether we are serious about the fight against terrorism or not,' he asked.
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The top leaders of BRICS held deliberations on a range of pressing challenges facing the globe on the first day of the grouping's two-day annual summit in this seaside Brazilian city.
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It is one of the most striking stations, not just in the Northeast, but all of route, connected through Assam's Silchar, traverses the scenic Barak Valley, known for its rolling hills, lush forests, and tea old metre-gauge route was considered one of the most scenic in through misty hills, deep gorges, and crossing the iconic Haflong bridge, the journey to Agartala from Lower Assam was a spectacle. While most of that charm was lost with the broad-gauge conversion, which replaced the leisurely 30 kmph rides with faster, more efficient now suggest that the Northeast Frontier Railway is considering preserving parts of the metre-gauge network as a heritage route. Clockwise from top left: The curved Haflong bridge in both its old metre-gauge and new broad-gauge forms; the India-Bangladesh railway link at the Tripura border; the grand Agartala Railway Station inspired by the Ujjayanta Palace; the 2022 landslide at New Haflong station in Dima Hasao. (Images: PTI/AFP/Ministry of Railways) The conversion to broad gauge significantly enhanced connectivity, enabling direct train services from Agartala to major cities like Guwahati, Kolkata, and Agartala, the railway route via Akhaura extends to Bangladesh, forming part of Indian Railways' grand plan to link Kolkata and Agartala through Dhaka, bypassing the much longer route via Malda, New Jalpaiguri, Guwahati, and nine years after Agartala's broad-gauge connectivity, it is Mizoram's capital, Aizawl's an inauguration expected soon, the Northeast will be further integrated. However, the route remains susceptible to landslides, with 2022 witnessing a major disruption that cut-off rail connectivity for Itanagar, and Agartala -- done. What about the rest? The plan is already on track, with capitals like Manipur's Imphal, Nagaland's Kohima, Meghalaya's Shillong and also Sikkim's Rangpo, and then Gangtok, are next in line to be KOHIMA, SHILLONG, GANGTOK: THE NEXT FRONTIER FOR RAIL CONNECTIVITYThe Ministry of Railways aims to connect all Northeast capitals by 2030. Projects, at different stages, are underway to connect more Northeastern capitals by 82-kilometre Dimapur–Zubza line will bring rail connectivity close to Kohima, which lies around 20 kilometres away. However, Dimapur, the state's largest commercial centre located on the Assam border, has long been served by the New Delhi-Dibrugarh main line, which has been in operation for 110-kilometre Jiribam–Tupul line is nearing completion, with Imphal just 25 kilometres from the railhead. A 2023 image of the Noney Bridge, the world's tallest railway pier bridge at 141 metres, part of the 111-km-long Jiribam–Imphal railway line. The construction of the bridge is now complete. (Image: Ministry of Railways) Meghalaya's capital, Shillong, is also yet to be directly connected by rail. Byrnihat, part of the under-construction Tetelia–Byrnihat line, aims to eventually extend rail connectivity closer to the hill station. A future extension from Byrnihat to Shillong, roughly 100-kilometres away, is planned to directly connect Meghalaya's capital to the national rail Sikkim, the brother of the seven sisters, the 44-kilometre Sivok–Rangpo line is in progress.A second phase will extend it to Gangtok and further eastward to the China border at Nathu La. Over 80% of the Sivok–Rangpo railway line is planned to run through tunnels or underground, making it one of the most tunnel-intensive rail projects in the journey so far, and more milestones are yet to be all began in 1962, when the Saraighat Bridge reconnected Guwahati to the national rail network. It laid the foundation for the Northeast's integration with the rest of India. More than six decades later, the connectivity project has gained momentum, with one capital after another being connected through tunnels, bridges, and tough terrain. If all goes well, the 2030 target of linking every Northeastern capital by rail will be achieved.- Ends