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Manama: Failure to make concerted efforts to combat terrorism and extremism in the region will have dire consequences, senior security and military officials have warned.
In this regard, Iraq's top security advisor called for the formation of an effective Nato-like security alliance.
India's top security advisor M.K. Narayanan warned of a new wave of attacks on economic targets in Western and Gulf states.
"According to intelligence reports, new schools that specialise in the training of an international brigade of terrorists have been established on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Recruits from at least 14 countries have been identified as among the trainees there," he told the Manama Dialogue conference here.
"It would be in everyone's interest if solutions could be found for problems that cast a shadow over peace in this region," he said.
Do not underestimate
British Minister of State for Armed Forces Bob Ainsworth said that Iraq could not assume the responsibility for its security on its own, and urged its neighbours to help in the fight to ensure stability.
"In today's interdependent world, we must face our challenges together. We must not underestimate the challenges ahead. We must seize the opportunities we have and we must work collectively to secure the future for Iraq and this most vital region of the world," he said.
Iraq's national security adviser, Mouaffaq Al Rubaie, called for the formation of an alliance of all the countries in the region modelled after Nato to launch a fight against terrorism and extremism.
"The countries should put aside political issues, focus on security and set up a regional security organisation, like Nato or the Baghdad Pact to combat extremism and drug trafficking," he said.
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