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Comprehensive strategy needed to counter IS: Indonesian minister

Xinhua, January 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Luhut Pandjaitan, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, said on Monday that a comprehensive strategy was needed to counter Islamic State (IS) terror group's systematic and effective campaign.

The official made the remarks while giving the keynote address at the fourth International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Fullerton Forum: The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) Sherpa Meeting in Singapore.

Addressing an audience of defence officials, senior military officers and academics, Luhut spoke about the recent terrorist attacks by the IS and highlighted such need.

"We need a systematic action plan against ISIS and other terrorist organisations...through a combination of soft and hard approaches as well as intelligence cooperation...A sole reliance on a hard approach action to fight against ISIS is hardly effective."

Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen stressed the importance for Singapore and Indonesia to work together with regional countries on counter-terrorism efforts against threats posed by radical groups.

"I agree with Pak Luhut, since ISIS has become more coordinated, we also must be more coordinated. No country would be able to minimize these risks alone and the more we cooperate, the stronger we become...the danger is real and present, and this just means that we too must step up our cooperation," he said.

The Fullerton Forum, organized by IISS, strengthens the SLD by providing an inter-sessional platform for senior defence ministers, military officials and security experts to engage in frank discussions on current defence and security issues.

This year's Fullerton Forum will discuss the stabilization of major power relations in the Asia-Pacific, emerging security threats such as cybersecurity and terrorism, and the prospects for conflict management in the Asia-Pacific region.

About 65 to 70 delegates from more than 20 countries are participating in this year's Fullerton Forum, which is held from Jan. 24 to Jan. 26. Enditem