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The horrific terror strikes in Paris that have resulted in the deaths of at least 127 people and injured another 200 mark the worst attack on French soil since World War II. Eight heavily armed terrorists struck at different locations across the French capital that included a local concert hall and the famous Stade de France football stadium.
That seven of the terrorists blew themselves up highlights the fidayeen nature of the attacks. The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has been blamed for the massacre with some reports suggesting that the outfit itself has claimed responsibility.
France has been in jihadi crosshairs since the attack on the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in January this year. The Paris attacks, at a preliminary level, have been described as retribution for France’s military involvement in Iraq and Syria against IS. While investigations over the next few days will reveal more connections, there’s no denying the fact that France’s links to its former colonies and mandates in north Africa and west Asia puts it in a vulnerable position. Given that France has a significant Arab immigrant population from countries in those regions, this makes it easier for groups like IS to infiltrate French society.
In the wake of the attacks, France has already declared a state of emergency and closed down its borders. French President Francois Hollande has described the strikes as an act of war. This could see France step up its military operations against IS in Iraq and Syria. However, even if this results in the destruction of IS, it won’t address the root cause of the problem. The fact is a transnational Islamic extremist movement is currently sweeping through large tracts of the globe. Tackling this requires not just military solutions but also a comprehensive ideological panacea. The Arab Spring wave ousted several autocrats in the Arab world who had ruled with an iron fist and kept extremists under check. Following their ouster the extremist groups have erupted like a raging volcano.
This is not to say that the autocrats should be brought back. In fact, it was their oppressive regimes that led to creation of Islamic extremist groups in the first place. Their trampling of dissent forced opposition elements to take refuge in underground jihadi movements. Hence, the solution to the present predicament lies in countering the jihadi ideology of groups like IS. In this regard, the north African nation of Morocco is pioneering an innovative approach that involves the promotion of moderate Islam through the training of foreign imams. In fact, France has already signed up to the Moroccan programme and has already decided to send French imams to the north African nation to get trained in the tenets of moderate Islam.
Additionally, given geographical proximity, historical ties and cultural bonds between France and Morocco, the latter can play a vital role in aiding Paris tackle its extremist problem. It’s slowly becoming clear that France is a common link between many of the Arab countries that are witnessing rising Islamist violence. In such a scenario, France needs a credible Arab partner to help address its security challenges. And that country can be none other than Morocco. The latter under the guidance of monarch King Mohammed VI is leading a global charge against extremism at several international forums such as the UN and provides crucial inputs on issues such as foreign fighters of jihadist movements. Thus, after the Paris attacks, the need for cooperation between France and Morocco is greater than ever.
