Afghan territory not for threatening any country or shelter terrorists: BRICS declaration

New Delhi 

The BRICS declaration at Beijing on Thursday, June 23, reiterated the importance of combating terrorism in Afghanistan and categorically emphasised that the Afghan territory is "not to be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists".

The Beijing Declaration of the virtual BRICS annual summit also said that the Afghan territory should not be used to plan and to finance terrorist acts.

"We call on the Afghanistan authorities to work towards combating drug-related crime to free Afghanistan from the scourge of drugs," it said.

The Declaration stated that, "We have discussed the situation in Ukraine and recall our national positions 

as expressed at the appropriate fora, namely the UNSC and UNGA. We support talks between Russia and 

Ukraine. We have also discussed our concerns over the humanitarian situation in and around Ukraine and expressed our support to efforts of the UN Secretary-General, UN Agencies and ICRC to provide humanitarian assistance".

Leaders of BRICS nations, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressed the need for a comprehensive 

reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more representative, effective and 

efficient.

China and Russia reiterated the importance they attach to the "status and role of Brazil, India and South Africa" 

in international affairs and supported their aspirations to play a greater role in the UN.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the virtual summit along with Chinese President 

Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and top leaders of Brazil and South Africa. 

The summit this year was hosted by China as the Chair. 

Notably, the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) brings together five of the largest 

developing countries of the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 

24 per cent of the global GDP and as high as 16 per cent of the global trade.

The BRICS countries also reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring the promotion and protection 

of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms to build a brighter shared future for the international community based on mutually beneficial cooperation.

"We reiterate our commitment to multilateralism through upholding international law, including the 

purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations as its indispensable cornerstone, 

and to the central role of the United Nations in an international system,"  said the Beijing Declaration 

of the virtual BRICS summit.

The Declaration also stressed the need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and to safeguard the fundamental rights of all Afghans, including women, children, and different ethnic groups.

"We reiterate the need to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through peaceful and diplomatic means".

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