KARACHI: Speakers at the launching ceremony of a book highlighted the roots of terrorism across the world and condemned state-sponsored terrorism, particularly the actions against Palestinians, and called for global solidarity.

They were addressing the ceremony of Shama Munshi’s 2nd edition of her latest book, Concept of Terrorism in the Post-Cold War Era, on Friday at Governor House.

The book delves into the root causes of terrorism, its global facilitators and geopolitical dimensions, with a particular focus on the role of the United States following the collapse of the Soviet Union and America’s attempts to create its hegemony across the globe.

Iranian Consul General in Karachi Hassan Nourain attended the event as the chief guest alongside Andrey Fedorov, the Russian Consul General in Karachi, as the guest of honor.

Second edition of Concept of Terrorism in the Post-Cold War Era by Shama Munshi launched

Speakers, including Aftab Munshi, former ambassador GN Baloch, and former ambassador Jamel Ahmed Khan, were also present. They commended Ms Munshi for her timely and bold stance in addressing terrorism, especially through Muslim perspective.

Consul General Hassan Nourain spoke about the factors driving terrorism, pointing out that the phenomenon is often rooted in political grievances, social injustices, and foreign interventions that destabilise regions.

He also discussed the role of state-sponsored terrorism, particularly highlighting the actions of Zionist Israel against Palestinians, which he argued contributed to broader regional instability and global insecurity.

Mr Nourain emphasised that such acts of violence are not isolated, but part of a larger pattern of oppression that fuels resentment and extremism. He called for global solidarity in addressing terrorism, saying that the fight against terror cannot be limited to military means alone.

Russian Consul General Andrey Fedorov supported this viewpoint by calling for a peaceful, diplomatic approach to resolving conflicts.

He argued that terrorism now has a clear, identifiable presence in today’s world, and the international community must unite to eliminate it. He warned that a purely reactive, military response to terrorism is insufficient and that peace is the only sustainable path forward.

He advocated for a collaborative global approach to terrorism, where countries work together not only in terms of intelligence-sharing and security cooperation, but also in promoting economic development, educational opportunities, and conflict resolution initiatives in regions prone to terrorism.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2024