ASEAN members need to move away from mere preventive diplomacy towards conflict resolution as they work together in promoting peace and security in the region, said a regional security analyst.

Singapore-based Benjamin Ho said that given the recent terror attacks in Paris, there would definitely be calls by world leaders to reinforce the importance of regional as well as international cooperation especially where national security matters were concerned.

He said the emphasis at regional forums so far had always been on non-traditional security which, while useful, was clearly not enough if more sensitive political issues remained untouched.

Referring to the Paris attacks, he said the incident highlighted the importance and urgency of moving from preventive diplomacy to conflict resolution, which he felt required a political solution.

Ho, who is an associate research fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, was interviewed by Bernama ahead of the ongoing 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits here.