KABUL - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Thursday called extremism a complex phenomenon that could be tackled only through joint regional and global efforts.

A one-day conference -- titled “Extremism in the Region” -- was arranged in Kabul by MoFA. Representatives from Pakistan and India and regional commentators were in attendance.

The conference’s main theme was confidence-building measures and fighting against terrorism and drugs, said Roya Rahmani, director of regional cooperation at MoFA.

“Fighting against terrorism and extremism is every country’s responsibility and everyone’s cooperation is needed.” Rahmani added the aim of the event was to find ways of tackling the issues and coming up with suggestions for the Istanbul process.

An initiative of Afghanistan, the Istanbul process was set in motion in 2011 in order to firm up a new agenda for regional cooperation in the Heart of Asia by placing Afghanistan at its centre.

Siraj-ul-Haq Siraj, deputy spokesman for MoFA, said the conference was to find solutions to various regional issues such as terrorism, natural disasters, trade and investment. (Pajhwok)