US Envoy Expresses Concern Over Radicalisation of Youth by Terror Groups

New Delhi: US Ambassador to India Richard Verma has said that the ability of terror groups like ISIS to disseminate ideologies to radicalise young people to violence is a matter of global concern that needed to be dealt with effectively.

He also made a strong pitch for enhanced cooperation, saying "the fact is we are stronger -the US and India- when we come together to solve difficult challenges like the one before us today. Let us also embrace diverse views in a spirit of gratitude for what each brings to the table."

He was addressing a two-day India-US workshop on "Opportunities for Public-Private Partnership in Countering Online Radicalization and Recruitment" which began on Tuesday and is specifically addressing violent extremism spread by groups such as ISIS and al Qaeda.

"The ability of terrorist groups like ISIS to disseminate ideologies capable of radicalising a son, daughter, sister, or brother to violence is a matter of global concern," the US envoy said.

The challenges faced in countering online radicalisation and recruitment are especially vexing because they give terrorist organisations opportunities to exploit national, institutional, professional, and language barriers that tend to separate countries, he added.

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In countering extremism, he referred to the role of civil society saying in "no area is this more important than the issue of countering violent extremism".

Asserting that violent extremists want the countries to turn against each other, he said as in Iraq, they will target societies where they think they have a chance of exploiting divisions.

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"In the US, we embrace the motto: E Pluribus Unum, Latin for 'out of many, one.' Similarly, the Hindi phrase 'anekta mein ekta', or 'unity in diversity,' carries the message that India is strongest when its citizens are united," he added.