BRICS Forum raises concern over hostilities in West Asia, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum concluded in New Delhi on October 27, 2026, with a joint declaration.
• Parliamentary leaders from BRICS nations expressed deep concern over escalating tensions and hostilities in West Asia.
• The forum condemned "unilateral coercive measures" and "unilateral economic sanctions" as contrary to international law.
• The joint declaration reiterated unwavering support for a "two-state solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• Participants called for maximum restraint in West Asia and affirmed the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.
• The forum also condemned the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Detailed Insights:

• India hosted the forum under its 2026 BRICS chairship at Samvidhan Sadan in New Delhi.
• Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla led the deliberations, focusing on parliamentary cooperation and global challenges.
• The joint declaration urged all parties to avoid actions that could further aggravate the situation in West Asia.
• BRICS nations reaffirmed the need for a peaceful resolution based on international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
• The declaration implicitly criticized measures that undermine international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
• The forum emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace, security, and stability in the West Asia region.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Two-state solution: A proposed framework to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing two independent states, Israel and Palestine, coexisting peacefully.
• Unilateral coercive measures: Economic or political measures taken by one state to compel a policy change in another state, often without UN Security Council authorization.
• UN Charter: The foundational treaty of the United Nations, outlining the rights and obligations of member states and establishing the UN's principal organs and procedures.