Today, almost 18 years since the devastating terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 the threat posed by Salafi-jihadism is not only bigger, but also different. The so-called Islamic State has suffered devastating losses in Iraq and Syria, but as a consequence is more likely to morph into an underground terrorist movement with a global network of ‘provinces’. Al-Qaeda and its offshoots number in the tens of thousands, with many regional affiliates deeply imbedded in local conflicts. Returning foreign terrorist fighters pose both an active threat and a rehabilitation challenge to their home countries, or any country they chose to relocate to.
As closing keynote speaker at the MiliPol Asia-Pacific 2019 Conference, Ali Soufan will dissect the nature of the current threat posed by the global Salafi-jihadi movement and examine the changing geopolitical landscapes across the world. He will provide insights into how the new geopolitical landscapes—ranging from South Asia to the Arabian Peninsula to the Sahel—and the rivalry between states, non-state actors, and sectarian and cultural rifts impact the rallying calls for extremism.
The closing address will be followed by a panel discussion between Ali Soufan, Khoo Boon Hui, former INTERPOL President, Didier Rondeau, Secretary General of International Federation of Senior Police Officers, and Richard Walton, Director of Counter Terrorism Global Ltd. The Panel discussion will be moderated by Susan Sim, Vice-President for Asia at The Soufan Group.