UN Security Council approves resolution on foreign militants

The UN Security Council Wednesday adopted a resolution addressing the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters and expanding obligations on member states in responding to this threat.

Unanimously approved by the 15-nation body at a special session chaired by US President Barack Obama, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council for September, the resolution aims to "prevent and suppress the recruiting, organising or equipping" of people to perpetrate or participate in extremist attacks, Xinhua reported.

Generally targeting foreign extremist militants travelling to conflicts anywhere in world, the resolution called upon all member states to "cooperate in efforts to address the threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters, including by preventing the radicalisation to terrorism and recruitment of foreign terrorist fighters".

The resolution highlighted the obligation that member states shall prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of any suspected terrorists.

The resolution placed an emphasis on the importance of countering violent extremism in order to prevent terrorism and encouraged engagement with relevant local communities and non-governmental actors to address the conditions conducive to the spread of violent extremism.

The Council members stressed the urgent need to implement fully and immediately the resolution with respect to foreign terrorist fighters.