London: British MPs are demanding a "grand strategic revision" in UKs policy to deal with the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist group and to ensure it does not spread to Asia and Africa.
The House of Commons Defence Select Committee warned that the terrorist group, like al Qaeda before it, could transform into an international movement with off-shoots if squeezed out of Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.
"The UK and coalitions strategy to counter Daesh [another name for ISIS] is predominately focused on Iraq and Syria and relies on the removal of territory from Daesh in order to eliminate it. That is a necessary, but not sufficient, strategy.
"[If] Daesh is defeated in the Middle East but then grows strong in Africa, the current strategy will require major revision," the committees report said.
"Our counter-Daesh strategy should be as effective in Nigeria, Afghanistan or Libya as it is in Iraq or Syria. There needs to be a grand strategic discussion about the threat posed by Daesh and how we can defeat it," it added.
The UK has been taking part in air strikes against Islamist militants in Iraq since 2014 and Parliament authorised their extension to Syria last year.
The committee found there had been 550 Royal Air Force (RAF) missions in Iraq since December 2015 and 65 in Syria.
It also called on the government to put more information about the targets for air strikes in Syria into the public domain, in order to "justify and validate" its policy of military action.
Julian Lewis, the Conservative MP who chairs the committee, said the UK must focus on the long-term risks.
"If Daesh transforms itself into an international movement or a network of affiliates - like al-Qaeda before it - which can survive the loss of territory - the UK government approach will need to adapt," he said.
"For example, if Daesh is defeated in the Middle East but then grows strong in Africa, the current strategy will require major revision. Assuming Daesh is squeezed out of both countries, we have to focus too on what happens next - both in other countries to which Daesh may migrate and in Syria especially where there is no shortage of other Islamist groups, just as dangerous, which are planning to take control," he added.
A UK government spokesperson said: "We have conducted over 1,000 air strikes, which is second only to the US in both countries, and have helped train more than 25,000 Iraqi forces."
