No 'selective application' in dealing with terrorism: BRICS

UFA: India and four other members of the BRICS today said there should be no "political approaches" and "selective application" in dealing with terrorism and insisted that all countries should adhere to their obligations of fighting against the menace, a statement that could apply to Pakistan.

At a summit meeting here, the grouping, which includes Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa, also condemned terrorist activities of the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and associated terrorist groups.

"We believe that terrorist threats can be effectively addressed through a comprehensive implementation by states and the international community of all their commitments and obligations arising from all relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy," said the BRICS Declaration.

"We call upon all states and the international community to adhere to their commitments and obligations and in this regard to resist political approaches and selective application," it said.

Although there was no specific reference to Pakistan, the observation could apply to the country as it has adopted a selective approach towards dealing with terrorism.

"We reiterate our strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stress that there can be no justification, whatsoever, for any acts of terrorism, whether based upon ideological, religious, political, racial, ethnic, or any other justification," the Declaration said.

It also said, "We condemn in the strongest terms terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the continued, widespread and grave abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law committed by the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Al-Nusrah Front and associated terrorist groups, and in particular the persecution of individuals and communities on the basis of their religion or ethnicity, as well all forms of violence against civilians, particularly women and children."

Expressing determination to "consistently strengthen our cooperation in preventing and countering international terrorism," the BRICS leader said, "We stress that the UN has a central role in coordinating international action against terrorism, which must be conducted in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter, international refugee and humanitarian law, human rights and fundamental freedoms."