NATO military cmte chief says IS defeated physically

BRUSSELS, Jan 17 (KUNA) -- NATO Military Committee Chairman Gen. Petr Pavel warned Wednesday that though the so-called Islamic State (IS) has been defeated physically on the ground, the group's ideological threat still remains.
"Physically ISIS has been defeated but it doesn't mean that the ideology was defeated and that Iraq is now safe and secure country. Up to the moment when this ideology attracts attention it is dangerous. It is dangerous because it goes against the civilisation regardless of the religion," he told a press conference at NATO headquarters today after a two-day meeting of the committee.
"We are all together in fighting this ideology and it is a long way before we can say we got rid of this threat," he stressed.
General Pavel said that more than forty partner countries took part in the meeting yesterday to address issues of security and stability in Europe's southern neighbourhood.
"This is one of the greatest transnational security challenges that we face and one which impacts every nation around the globe," he stressed.
He said NATO's "network of partners allows us to work more effectively and in a comprehensive manner. Our goal is to cooperate even more cohesively with the aim of improving stability in the Middle East and North Africa." "On the transformation of the Global Coalition against ISIL and NATO's role in Iraq, we noted how the Coalition is transitioning from combat to stabilization," he said.
The committee discussed how NATO could adapt its current activity on the Training and Capacity Building Initiative in Iraq, upon request by the Iraqi authorities.
It also met partners in Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and discussed the strategic, operational and political context in and around Afghanistan.
"The Chiefs of Defence stressed the enduring commitment to Afghanistan. They also recognised the progress achieved by the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces over the course of last year, in particular the growth of the Afghan Special Security Forces and the Afghan Air Force," he added. (end) nk.mt