The terror attack in Paris has once again highlighted the heated debates on the activities of ISIS and Islamophobia prevalent in Europe and elsewhere at every forum these days. The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a delegation from Centro Studi Internazionali (Ce.S.I), Italy. The three member Italian delegation was led by the President of Ce.S.I. Mr. Andrea Margelletti and included Analyst coordinator of Ce.S.I., Dr. Gabriele Lacovino and Analyst in charge for Asia and Pacific affairs, Ms. Francesca Manenti.
The president of the Institute spoke candidly about the existing security threats from non-state actors, in general and IS in particular. While comparing Al Qaeda with ISIS, he differentiated the two by terming the former as an umbrella group and the latter as a non–state actor having its own territory, economy and its own identity, and hence, a real threat to global peace. The professor highlighted that these threats are not limited to Europe or United States, but endanger the rest of the world. In addition, it is a threat to Pakistan where their interest lies not in a few cities or FATA but in the state of Pakistan as a whole.
