India concerned over Sahel instability
http://khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2012/12/22/feature-01
India
concerned over Sahel instability
Al-Qaeda must not be allowed to regroup in northern Africa, giving it a
base that could allow it to threaten the peace process in South Asia,
Indian officials and analysts say.
By Udayan Namboodiri for Khabar South Asia in New DelhiDecember 22, 2012
Concerned over al-Qaeda's<
http://khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2012/05/09/feature-04>
presence
in the Sahel region of Africa, India is urging the global community to work
together in order to contain terrorist groups and blunt the appeal of
extremism.
Speaking at a December 10th UN Security Council meeting on peace and
security in the Sahel, India's acting permanent representative, Manjeev
Singh Puri, said stabilising the area should be a priority.
"This requires dealing with the threats of secessionist, extremist and
al-Qaeda-linked terrorist groups," Puri said at the meeting. "Political
dialogue should be pursued with those willing to renounce terrorism and lay
down arms."
"A secure environment will also facilitate the implementation of programmes
for national reconciliation and delivery of humanitarian assistance," he
added.
Elaborating on Puri's remarks, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid
told Khabar South Asia that a combination of approaches is needed.
"There should be a mix of the hard and the soft. While armed action against
the terror groups should continue, we also should not give up the
negotiated settlement option," he said.
"We have sent the message that India is willing to co-operate with the UN,
the African Union and other countries in the Saharan region in building up
capacities in combating drug smuggling, terrorism and fundamentalism,"
Khurshid added.
The Sahel, running from northern Africa's eastern to western coasts,
includes parts of Algeria, Chad, Eritrea, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal
and Sudan. Many of these countries have experienced internal strife,
leading to weak governments and a breakdown in rule of law.
Extremist organisations – including al-Qaeda, Ansar Dine, and Boko Haram –
have been eager to fill the vacuum, while also exploiting the grievances of
impoverished or strife-impacted local people.
The militants then seek to impose their goals, killing opponents and
destroying anything regarded as incompatible with their ideology. "These
groups have damaged and destroyed many sites of cultural, historical and
religious significance," Puri told attendees.
Addressing local concerns must be part of any comprehensive strategy, the
Indian envoy said, citing Mali as an example. The government there should
"address the legitimate grievances of the people" in its northern region"
and launch an "inclusive political process", he said.
Meanwhile, he added, the international community should redouble its
efforts to address humanitarian problems such as lack of food security, and
boost resources to agencies working in the region.
The stakes are high, according to Jamil Hussain, a West Asia expert at the
Jamia Milia Islamia University in Delhi. "The strengthening of al-Qaeda in
any part of the world could upset the delicate balance in South Asia and
Southeast Asia," he told Khabar.
"The growing popularity of the Indo-Pakistan peace
process<
http://khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/newsbriefs/2012/09/11/newsbrief-01>,
the return of peace in
Kashmir<
http://khabarsouthasia.com/en_GB/articles/apwi/articles/features/2012/11/14/feature-01>
and
the balance struck by the government of Bangladesh are developments which
need to be protected and followed up to their logical end," he said.
Received on Sat Dec 22 2012 - 17:29:13 EST
