Kuwait: Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani attended an extraordinary meeting of the GCC interior ministers.
The meeting at Kuwait International Airport discussed joint security developments on local and regional levels after attacks on places of worship.
Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah said the meeting highlighted the “intricacy and danger at the current stage” and the need to face terrorism through coordination. Gulf states are aware of “conspiracies, sedition and terrorist acts being planned against them, which need to be tackled in a decisive, forceful, prepared and coordinated manner,” he said, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reports.
Sheikh Mohammad also stressed the need “to work to support and shield our (Gulf) society from deviant and extremist ideologies which target our youth”. He hailed understanding and cooperation among participants and said the ministers vowed support to deal with anything that might threaten the security of the six-nation bloc.
After talks, the ministers extended condolences to Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the families of those killed and injured in a suicide blast in a mosque on June 26 and the Kuwaiti people. Twenty-six people died and 227 were wounded.
In a statement, the ministers expressed “extreme condemnation of terrorist attacks that target the people and stability of GCC states,” and said “these attacks have no relation whatsoever to the faith of Islam and its tolerant values that denounce violence, killing innocent life and causing damage and destruction.”
They also denounced similar attacks on places of worship in Saudi Arabia, and terrorist attacks in Bahrain and Somalia, where a UAE humanitarian aid convoy was targeted.
The ministers hailed unity and solidarity of the Kuwaiti people during their ordeal and said their stance sent a strong message to terrorists that the attack will not divide the people of the land and will be met with failure. They also praised quick response of Kuwaiti authorities and their decisive action in apprehending co-conspirators.
The incident has shaken the GCC, Arab and Islamic communities, they said, pledging to tackle terrorism collectively.
Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al Khaled said the meeting reflected “a sense of unity and integration among neighbourly nations to face difficulties and crises”. The Premier also attended a dinner banquet hosted by Sheikh Mohammed in honour of the ministers. Later the Premier left. He and his delegation were seen off at Kuwait International Airport by Qatari Ambassador to Kuwait Hamad bin Ali Al Henzab and senior officials of the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry.
Meanwhile, in a sign of unity, thousands of Shias and Sunnis prayed together at the Grand Mosque, attended by Emir
H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah and other officials. The worshippers vowed to block any attempt to stir sectarian division.
Shia MP Adnan Abdulsamad said Islamic State rebels were “fools” for thinking they could destabilise Kuwait and last week’s attack had made Kuwaitis more determined to promote solidarity.
“It is a prayer of unity. The heinous crime only brings us further strength and tolerance. It made our enemies fools. Were they under the illusion that with this crime they would create discord?”
Agencies
