17 November 2009 - « AL QAEDA CONTINUES TO POSE SERIOUS THREAT» TERRORISM EXPERT WARNS

Speaking at the 55^th NATO PA Annual session in Edinburgh last weekend, Prof Wilkinson warned the Members of the Political Committee of Al Qaeda’s global reach and called for a holistic multi-pronged strategy to improve the efficiency in preventing terrorist attacks.

Wilkinson stressed that al Qaeda remains dangerous, innovative and determined to commit terrorist acts worldwide.  In addition to the frontline states Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, there is firm evidence of the network’s presence in at least 60 countries.  However, the organization could be active in as many as 90 states.  This allowed al Qaeda to quickly consolidate if it loses ground in one country, he argued. 

The transnational nature of terrorist groups – as well as their modus operandi – require a broader and more coordinated international response.  However, some countries continue to underestimate the threat, Wilkinson told the Committee.  Commenting on the situation in Afghanistan, he said that it would be a “disaster” to withdraw troops from the country as this would allow the network to use it as a base for its international terrorist activities.  Success in Afghanistan depended not simply on sending more troops, but required a holistic strategy, he pointed out.  Such a strategy must include political and economic measures, reinforced dialogue with moderate Muslim groups, intelligence gathering and broad and robust counter-proliferation measures to prevent acquisition of biological and nuclear weapons.  “I believe that a holistic strategy has not been achieved yet but unless we do, we are not likely to win this struggle in the long run” he concluded.