‘Force alone cannot eradicate extremism’

Published February 21, 2015
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks at the White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremism.—AFP/File
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaks at the White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremism.—AFP/File
President Barack Obama stops to greet United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon before taking the stage to speak at the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Summit.—AP/File
President Barack Obama stops to greet United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon before taking the stage to speak at the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Summit.—AP/File
Attendees of the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism listen as President Barack Obama speaks.—AP/File
Attendees of the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism listen as President Barack Obama speaks.—AP/File

WASHINGTON: More than 60 countries which participated in a White House summit have concluded that using force alone to curb extremism can exacerbate the problem and suggested a multi-pronged approach, which includes methods to win hearts and minds.

They also stressed that terms like “violent extremism” and “terrorism”, should “not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation, or ethnic group”.

The participants also “reaffirmed their determination to stand against any manifestation of religious-based discrimination wherever it may reveal itself”.

Take a look: Nisar presents anti-terrorism strategy at US summit

The three-day summit to counter violent extremism, which ended on Friday, also brought dozens of international organisations, including the UN, EU, OIC and the Arab League, to the US capital.

In a joint statement issued after the ministerial meeting, the participants reaffirmed that intelligence gathering, military force, and law-enforcement “alone will not solve — and when misused can in fact exacerbate — the problem of violent extremism”.

Instead, they stressed the need of following comprehensive rule of law and community-based strategies to deal with these issues.

“Like all measures aimed at addressing the terrorist threat, (these strategies) should (also) be developed and implemented in full compliance with international law, in particular international human rights law, international refugee law, and international humanitarian law, as well as with the principles and purposes of the UN Charter,” the statement said.

The participants condemned the recent terrorist attacks in places such as Afghanistan, Denmark, Egypt, France, Kenya, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Yemen, as well as in Iraq and Syria and other countries.

They underscored the need to resolve crises and prevent new conflicts that provide opportunities for terrorists to flourish.

They noted that groups like Da’esh, Al Qaeda and its affiliates, Ansar Al-Sharia entities, Boko Haram, and Al-Shabaab, were recruiting terrorists who were willing to conduct attacks in their home countries and to travel overseas for this purpose.

The summit reaffirmed the central role of the UN in efforts to address violent extremism and the comprehensive framework that the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy offers for addressing the conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism.

The world’s major powers and their allies warned that violent extremists might seek to destabilise governments and sow internal frictions within societies. They underscored “the importance of upholding and preserving democratic principles, and promoting the rule of law to address these challenges”.

The participants highlighted the need to explore how development and other relevant foreign assistance could contribute to addressing populations at risk of recruitment by violent extremists and the conditions conducive to radicalisation to violence.

The participating nations agreed to hold a leaders-level summit on the margins of the United National General Assembly in September this year.

Published in Dawn February 21th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...