GENEVA: The Syrian conflict has acted like a greenhouse for extremist groups which are now spreading “like a cancer”, the UN chief said on Friday, urging greater cooperation to prevent radicalisation.

The war raging in Syria has “provided the perfect breeding ground for extremist and terrorists to take root in the society,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters in Geneva.

“Now (the militant Islamic State (IS) group) and all the extremists are spreading like a cancer around the world,” he warned in remarks on the sidelines of a high-level conference on preventing violent extremism.

In an earlier address to some of the 700 delegates — among them around 30 ministers and deputy ministers — Ban urged a radical rethink of ways to counter the threat from IS and other groups.

“Evidence shows that security and military responses alone cannot defeat this scourge,” he said, stressing that heavy-handed responses have sometimes “proven to be counter-productive” and can “end up further fuelling violent extremism”.

In January, Ban launched a global action plan, asking countries to come up with national plans to address the problem. Ban’s plan encompasses 79 recommendations, from boosting education to promoting human rights to counter the recruitment drives of groups like IS and Boko Haram which prey on disaffected youth.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

Taliban divisions
Updated 24 Feb, 2025

Taliban divisions

The only workable solution lies in Mullah Akhundzada loosening his iron grip on the country.
Oblivious to drought
24 Feb, 2025

Oblivious to drought

PAKISTAN faces two types of drought: one caused by dry weather or lower-than-normal rainfall, and the other ...
Digital children
24 Feb, 2025

Digital children

AS most parents with young children will agree, the easiest way to pacify a bawling child is to hand them a...
The long wait
Updated 23 Feb, 2025

The long wait

Pakistan’s fundamental problem is that two of its most important leaders still cannot get over themselves.
Defending freedom
23 Feb, 2025

Defending freedom

THERE was no other choice. Despite assurances of consultations with key stakeholders, the government passed the Peca...
Anti-Muslim crimes
23 Feb, 2025

Anti-Muslim crimes

THE surge in Islamophobic assaults in the UK, as reported by the anti-hate crime charity Tell MAMA, is a stark...