Islamic extremism versus anti-Islamic forces

It is reported that the IS terrorist organization has claimed it was behind the horrific attacks. Yet whoever the perpetrators, the attacks on innocent people should be condemned in the strongest terms, and those responsible arrested and punished.

Since Sri Lanka has been facing some political and economic problems, and increasingly acute social conflicts for the past few years, the attacks seem to reveal not just sectarian disputes but also certain people's dissatisfaction with the situation in the island nation, and the rest of South Asia.

The motive behind the attacks could be helplessness and desperation of certain sections of Muslims in South Asia. 

The rise of Islamic extremism has to some extent fueled the rise of white supremacist groups in the United States and some European countries. Perhaps the conflict between Islamic extremism and the anti-Muslim forces today is greater than that immediately after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks in the US.

And the rising tensions in South Asia and other regions should prompt governments to take sound measures to prevent the spread of extremism inside their borders.

The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.