Jordan combats terror through military-ideological approach — Momani

AMMAN — Jordan’s strategy to fight terrorism is based on an approach combining military, security and ideology, an official said on Saturday at a conference titled “Jordan in a changing region… the coming stage’s scenarios”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Deputising for Prime Minister Hani Mulki, State Minister for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani said that Jordan has been dealing with the regional crises with “wisdom and rationalism”.

Momani, who is also the government’s spokesperson, stated that Jordan has a “pivotal” role in the region through its efforts to establish security and stability.

However, he noted that the Kingdom’s prosperity and development have been affected by the lack of regional security and stability.

He said that Jordan is a “leading” country in the war against terror and extremism through a holistic military and ideological approach.

The minister stressed the importance of an objective assessment of the reasons behind the rise of terrorist organisations in order to deal with them appropriately, noting the importance of discussion panels on terror and extremism in providing insights that help support the efforts to combat terrorism at various levels.

For his part, Al Quds Centre for Political Studies Director General Oraib Rantawi said that the conference aims at focusing on the future opportunities and challenges Jordan is likely to face.

Citing terrorism as the most dangerous and pressing threat, Rantawi said that the military advances achieved in Iraq and Syria during the past two years and the decline of the Daesh terror group in both countries does not mean the end of the threat.

He added that there are still some “active” terrorist pockets near the northern borders, noting Jordan’s pivotal role in the de-escalation zones implemented in south-eastern Syria through the Kingdom’s “historic” ties with the US and the development of its relations with Russia.

Rantawi explained that Jordan has to be open to all segments of the Iraqi society and to deal with with them in equal terms. This should be carried out through the reopening of borders, the participation in reconstruction projects, investments in the Iraqi market and collaboration in the fight against terror, in addition to accomplishing joint strategic energy projects such as the gas and oil pipelines.

He said that Jordan currently faces three main challenges which are economy, combating extremism and the political reform. 

For her part, Resident Representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in Jordan Annette Ranko said that KAS has been active for more than 30 years in Jordan with the aim of supporting a sustainable social, political, and economic development.