Qatar chaired the 17th session of the Permanent Committee for Combating Terrorism in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, held on September 3-4 at the GCC General Secretariat office in Riyadh. The meeting examined the efforts made by the GCC in the field of combating terrorism and its close collaboration with the international community and the UN in this field to restrict the activities of extremist and terrorist groups, in addition to examining how to develop and strengthen joint efforts to combat terrorism.

The conference, according to the Ministry of Interior, was chaired by Col Khalid Ali al-Kaabi, secretary of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee at MoI, with Qatar‘s delegation directed by Maj Yasser Ali al-Malik, a member of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee Secretariat. The meeting concerned various agenda items and made appropriate decisions.

The GCC member states examined the range of terrorist threats to the Middle East and other regions, including South and Central Asia and Africa. The participants declared that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, or ethnic status. The GCC member states affirmed to counter terrorist militias and armed groups across the region and the use of unmanned aircraft systems threatens regional security and stability. Participants took note that the GCC members have already affirmed that diplomacy remains the choice way to address Iran’s destabilizing policies.

The GCC member states affirmed that to decrease the risk of ISIS/Da’esh re-emerging in Syria and Iraq, more joint efforts should be encouraged globally to ensure that a reasonable and sustainable solution is performed for individuals currently located in camps and detention structures in northeast Syria that could include safe repatriation, rehabilitation, reintegration, and prosecution, as applicable.  

Moreover, member states stressed the need for civilian-led efforts, including stabilization assistance, opposing terrorist financing, and countering ISIS narratives, in Syria and Iraq to persist.  They also emphasized the need to continue measures to enhance the Government of Iraq’s counterterrorism capabilities and reforms.

Furthermore, member states stressed the importance of maintaining joint action to collectively address terrorist threats by countering the financing of terrorism and supporting resilience in the face of terrorism. They further resolved to hold subsequent meetings of this working group to discuss these and other issues.

Member states also welcomed opportunities for further collaboration under the auspices of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, including forthcoming working and focus group meetings on countering ISIS financing and ISIS messaging, deterring foreign terrorist fighter travel, and executing stabilization lines of effort in Syria and Iraq.