A British think-tank on Monday said the United States-led war on terror is failing and is in fact fuelling an increase in support for extremist Islamist movements.
The report, put together by the Oxford Research Group, said a fundamental rethink is required to tackle the global terror network.
''If the Al Qaeda [Images] movement is to be countered, then the roots of its support must be understood and systematically undercut,'' Paul Rogers, the report's author and professor of global peace studies at Bradford University in northern England [Images], said.
Rogers said the invasion of Iraq was a disastrous mistake that has helped establish a most valued jihadi combat training zone.
Rogers also warned against going to was with Iran.
"It will make matters far worse, playing directly into the hands of extreme elements and adding greatly to the violence across the region. Whatever the problems with Iran, war should be avoided at all costs," he said.
It added: ''Combined with conventional policing and security measures, Al Qaeda can be contained and minimised but this will require a change in policy at every level.''
Regarding Afghanistan, Rogers said there is a need for scaling down of military activities, an injection of more civil aid and negotiations with militia groups aimed at bringing them into the political process.
Such measures will still take at least 10 years to make up for the mistakes made since 9/11, he said.
''Failure to make the necessary changes could result in the war on terror lasting decades,'' the report said.
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