9/11: Why world must pursue a smarter 'campaign on terror'

AS the two-decade anniversary of 9/11 dawns, President Joe Biden has declared that US-led anti-terror efforts must continue post-Afghanistan, but Washington and its international allies would be wise to deploy a much "smarter" campaign.

For the war on terror has for too long been hyper-militarised - dominated by counterterrorism and security. What is now needed is a focus too on other soft power instruments to win "hearts and minds" such as economic and public diplomacy which have long been underinvested in.

Take the example of economic and financial efforts which could potentially be as important in winning the campaign as military might. Greater use of economic tools such as preferential trade measures, the removal of existing sanctions coupled with loans to reward allies, and sanctions policy used both as a stick and a carrot, plus cutting off terrorist financing, are part of a suite of measures that could be more broadly appliedby the United States and its international allies.