AT A time when global terrorism is on the rise, cooperation among South-east Asian countries is key in combating terrorist activities in the region, said security and terrorism experts in response to the latest United States report on terrorism.

The Country Reports on Terrorism 2014, issued by the US State Department on June 19, indicates that the number of terrorist attacks increased by 35 per cent from 2013 to last year, and the number of fatalities increased 81 per cent in that time.

Although Asia “continued to weaken the ability of terrorist groups”, the report noted that some countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia still face a number of challenges when dealing with the threat of terrorism.

In particular, the report highlighted the Sulu-Sulawesi Seas between Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines as an area where violent extremists tend to operate, train and meet.

… Professor Rohan Gunaratna, who heads Singapore’s International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, said that while Asian governments have already made efforts to work with neighbours and internationally on terrorist threats, more cooperation is necessary.

“Governments must build common databases, exchange personnel (and) conduct joint training and operations to make the Asia-Pacific region hostile to ISIS and unfriendly to ISIS supporters,” he said.