General Sharif Says Terrorists Restrict Attack Strategy to Smaller Rings

General Raheel Sharif attends a ceremony at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi November 29, 2013.  REUTERS/Mian Khursheed/Files
General Raheel Sharif attends a ceremony at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi November 29, 2013. REUTERS/Mian Khursheed/Files
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General Sharif Says Terrorists Restrict Attack Strategy to Smaller Rings

General Raheel Sharif attends a ceremony at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi November 29, 2013.  REUTERS/Mian Khursheed/Files
General Raheel Sharif attends a ceremony at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi November 29, 2013. REUTERS/Mian Khursheed/Files

Islamic Military Alliance Commander General Raheel Sharif stressed that Islamic countries exert great efforts when facing the challenge of combating terrorism and violent extremism, especially when confronting groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda. He pointed out that terrorists no longer use central and organized planning, but resort to lone-wolf attacks and smaller terror rings.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Military Alliances Conference in the Middle East, Gen. Sharif labeled the initiative launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz to establish the 41-nation Islamic Military Coalition against terrorism as one of the most important alliances in the world.

Gen. Sharif highlighted that the Islamic alliance is not directed against any state, doctrine, or religion, but is an alliance set out to eradicate terrorism by promoting tolerance and countering misconceptions surrounding Islam.

Terrorist groups and organizations have exploited and marred the image of Islam and its believers.

General Sharif briefed a crowd of military officials and diplomats about the strategy undertook by the Islamic military alliance for the war on terror, which includes countering terrorist propaganda and intelligence work, drying up terror funds and any form of support.

He added that one of the tasks is to reduce terror financing through building intelligence capabilities and law enforcement institutions in member states. He said that the coalition will work with international organizations in this regard.

Gen. Sharif stressed that the coalition’s military wing will provide support to member states in their fight against terrorism and efforts on deterring violent attacks.

He pointed out to defense ministries in the member states coordinating with the Saudi Defense Ministry led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on making decisions related to maintaining the sovereignty, security, and stability of member states.

Gen. Sharif reviewed Pakistan's experience in the war on terrorism, noting that Pakistan had suffered the loss of 6,000 martyrs in the war against terrorism.

The main conference’s session was held on Monday with a speech to Brigadier General Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Commander of the Royal Guards, in which he welcomed Bahrain's strategy announced by President Donald Trump to address Iranian policies aimed at security and stability in the region.



Tunisia Hands Lengthy Prison Terms to Top Politicians and Former Security Officials

Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
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Tunisia Hands Lengthy Prison Terms to Top Politicians and Former Security Officials

Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Leader of Tunisia's Ennahda party House Speaker Rached Ghannouchi, center, flashes a victory sign as he arrives for questioning at the judicial police headquarters in Tunis, Tunisia, April 1, 2022. (AP)

A Tunisian court on Tuesday handed jail terms of 12 to 35 years on high-profile politicians, including opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi and former security officials, a move that critics say underscores the president's use of the judiciary to cement “authoritarian rule”.

Among those sentenced on charges of conspiring against the state in the major mass trial, were Nadia Akacha, the former chief of staff to President Kais Saied, local radio Mosaique FM said. Akacha who fled abroad received 35 years.

Ghannouchi, 84, veteran head of the Islamist-leaning Ennahda party, was handed a 14-year term.

Ghannouchi who was the speaker of the elected parliament dissolved by Saied, has been in prison since 2023, receiving three sentences of a total of 27 years in separate cases in recent months.

A total of 21 were charged in the case, with 10 already in custody and 11 having fled the country.

The court sentenced former intelligence chief Kamel Guizani to 35 years, former Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem to 35 years, and Mouadh Ghannouchi, son of Rached Ghannouchi, to 35 years. All three have fled the country.

Saied dissolved the parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree, then dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges, a move that opposition called a coup which undermined the nascent democracy that sparked in 2011 the so-called “Arab Spring” uprisings.

Saied rejects the accusations and says his steps are legal and aim to end years of chaos and corruption hidden within the political elite.

Most opposition leaders, some journalists, and critics of Saied have been imprisoned since he seized control of most powers in 2021.

This year, a court handed jail terms of 5 to 66 years to opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers on charges of conspiring as well, a case the opposition says is fabricated in an attempt to stamp out opposition to the president.