Afghanistan has become the scene of terrorist carnages at regular intervals. In the latest incident 13 people were killed in a suicide attack on an Afghan election campaign rally on Tuesday. The attack is the first suicide assault since campaigning officially kicked off last Friday for the parliamentary elections.

We believe that terrorists of any hue should be met with firm resolve and no quarters should be given to perpetrators of attacks which target innocent unarmed victims. Those who act in such a dastardly and cowardly fashion only understand the application of ruthless force. The Islamic State–which has claimed responsibility for almost all such previous attacks–is no longer a regional threat. It has evolved into a serious international terror threat, murdering more hundreds of people in the last couple of years. It has been linked to the Paris attacks, the downing of a Russian passenger aircraft, the bombings in Beirut and several others. It would hardly be an overstatement to say that this evil organisation is at war with the civilised world.

  Having said that the latest attacks prove it is hardly possible to completely protect cities from suicidal assaults of this kind. The IS and other organisation of its ilk, with their twisted creed of hate and bigotry, detest freedoms, the lifestyles and the open, tolerant cultures and are hell-bent on destroying them. Leaders and policymakers across the globe must take an uncompromising stance against narrow loyalties across sectarian lines — sentiments that provide fertile recruiting ground for those seeking a fast path to earthly or heavenly rewards.  The authorities everywhere in the field of counter-terrorism must identify and tackle the factors which contribute to radicalisation and the processes by which individuals are recruited to commit acts of terror. They must do everything to hinder capacity to plan and organise, and to bring these to justice. To achieve these goals, strengthening national capabilities, regional and international cooperation and information exchange is essential. The governments must work closely with other international and regional organisations to build international consensus and promote international standards for fighting terrorism.

   Bangladesh too has been victim on vicious terror attacks in the past and the people here can understand the pain and anguish of the family and friends of the victims of terror attacks. We believe that terrorists of any hue should be met with firm resolve and no quarters should be given to perpetrators of attacks which target innocent unarmed victims. Those who act in such a dastardly and cowardly fashion only understand the application of ruthless force.