Defense ministers from the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) approved during their first meeting held Sunday in Riyadh, a strategy from several items to fight terrorism as they emphasized on the importance of joint efforts, organized collective actions, and comprehensive strategic planning to deal with the threat of terrorism, and put an end to those who seek to fuel conflicts and sectarianism, and spread chaos, strife and unrest within their countries.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman opened the inaugural meeting of the IMCTC on Sunday and said that the biggest threat from terrorism and extremism is tarnishing the reputation of Islamic religion and distorting the Muslim belief, also pledging to track down terrorism and see its defeats in many countries of the world, especially in Islamic countries, until it disappears completely from the surface of the earth.
“Our meeting today is very important as in the past years, terrorism has been operating in all our countries and most of these organizations operate in several countries without a strong, good and distinguished coordination among Islamic countries. Today, this matter is finished in the presence of this coalition. Today, more than 40 Islamic countries are sending a very strong signal that they will work together and coordinate very strongly to support each other's efforts, whether in military efforts, or financial, intelligence, and political aspects,” the Crown Prince said.
The Muslim top defense officials agreed on Sunday to fight terrorism in the ideology domain, by planning to expose extremist misuse of legitimate texts and events through delusion, allegation, false methods and deceit.
The ministers also expressed their determination to address terrorism through education and knowledge and to fight terrorist ideologies in the financing domain.
“The Ministers agreed on the importance of the role of the IMCTC Counter Terrorism Center in coordinating and integrating military efforts, the exchange of information and intelligence, and conducting training courses and joint exercises,” a statement issued by the ministers said.
The Council also agreed on the importance of the military role in combating the threat of terrorism, enhancing security and peace in the Coalition member countries and contributing to regional and international security and peace.
Gen. Raheel Sharif, military commander of the IMCTC, said: “The greatest challenge to peace and stability in the 21st century, especially in the Islamic world, is to address the most serious phenomenon in the world: Terrorism.”
For his part, Secretary-General of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Lieutenant General Abdulelah bin Othman Al-Saleh uncovered that the defense ministers exchanged information and initiatives to be submitted in the coming period, indicating that there are institutional initiatives, plans and strategies that will dry up the sources of terrorism and its funding by information, military and media.
