Regionalise national counter-terrorism plan: Abdullah Abdullah

Citing reluctance of nations in implementing global counter-terrorism plan, Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah today emphasised upon regionalising such an initiative.
Addressing a conference here, he said although nations generally agree that terrorism threatens the security of the whole humanity, each state is developing its own homegrown capabilities to tackle the direct threat it faces within its milieu.
"They have been reluctant to adopt and implement a global counter-terrorism action plan, even though terrorism sees no borders, nationalities, religions, creeds or cultures.
"Ironically, however, in some cases, terrorism has helped bring old adversaries closer. And it has at times turned foes into allies and, in some cases, allies into foes. Such half-heart measures have only addressed the symptoms rather than the causes of terrorism," Abdullah said.

He said that there is not much difference in the officially stated regional definition of what constitutes terrorism and how to counter it.
Looking at how India, China, Pakistan, Iran, and others have defined terrorism, one can see that there is not much difference in their individual definitions of the threat, Abdullah said.

"Then what bars us from collectively acting against terrorism, as we have witnessed the tragic terrorist attacks claiming many innocent lives in Kabul, Mumbai, Peshawar, Paris, Ankara, San Bernardino (California), and so many other places?
"In simple terms, why can't we regionalize our national counter-terrorism action plans," he asked.

Abdullah was speaking at the inauguration of a counter-terrorism conference here. He said "we don't lack regional mechanisms of cooperation".
The Heart of Asia Process, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the South Asian Association Regional Cooperation (SAARC), are the appropriate mechanisms, through which we could organize our collective efforts in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, and other such threats, Abdullahsaid.
On peace with the Taliban groups, Afghanistanposition is clear: "Those Taliban groups, who are willing to join the process, they are welcome. While those, who refuse to do so, would be dealt with militarily."
"In effect, we don't differentiate between the Taliban and ISIS affiliated groups, and are firmly committed to fight and defeat any militant groups that share the ideology of Al Qaeda and ISIS," he said.

"As we continue our peace efforts, we invite all our neighbors to cooperate with Afghanistan. The National Unity Government of Afghanistan has repeatedly called on all stakeholders, including our neighbors, to commit the collective will and resources to confront what is a common security threat. Afghanistan has done more than lion's share," Abdullah said.
He said: "We must put aside all double-standards in the fight against terrorism and apply our domestic counter-terrorism policies and laws to tackling the threat of terrorism at the regional and global levels.