The elimination of al-Baghdadi doesn’t mean the Islamic State caliphate won’t survive

Despite killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011, several active affiliates of al-Qaeda still exist in many parts of the world, says G. Kishan Reddy at conference in Australia.

Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy has said that “despite recent elimination of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, there is no room to construe that the Caliphate would cease to survive.”

The leader of the terror outfit Islamic State was killed in a U.S. raid last month. The outfit seeks to establish an Islamic caliphate.
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The man purported to be Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a screengrab of the video. AP

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Mr. Reddy made the statement in Australia where he is attending a “No Money for Terror” conference organised by the Australian government where 70 other countries are participating.

“India, being a victim of cross-border terrorism, advocates zero-tolerance towards terror…Despite killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011, several active affiliates of al-Qaeda still exist in many parts of the world,” Mr. Reddy said at the conference.

Mr. Reddy announced that India would host the next such conference .

He proposed four points for inclusion in the resolution — Terrorism is the single biggest threat to peace, security and development; Nations must expedite the finalisation of a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism under the United Nations; FATF Standards must be effectively enforced and U.N. listings and FATF should not be politicised; Initiate discussion on Countering Financing of Radicalisation (CFR), which would prevent radicalisation — an essential prerequisite of terrorism.

The Minister would also be leading a terror-focused bilateral meeting with his Australian counterpart in Melbourne on November 8.

He also stressed India’s concern over the tacit support some nations are extending to terror groups.

Source: Hindu Times