Nato 'could do more to prevent extremism'

Nato could do more to help countries trying prevent extremism, the UK's top general in the military alliance has said.

General Sir Adrian Bradshaw said that Nato's role in supporting other countries who run counter-radicalisation programmes could be expanded.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme he gave the example of efforts in Jordan to train imams in a tolerant form of Islam.

Despite these non-military strategies not being the traditional focus of the alliance, he said it was important that Nato demonstrated the importance of "complementary activities".

General Bradshaw said: "One of the ways in particular that we can help as Nato is by drawing attention to the problem and the need for complementary activities to take place.

"There is a lot more that can be done to support nations who are running their own counter-radicalisation programmes.

"In particular, for example, I've become aware of the programme sponsored by King Abdullah of Jordan and delivered by Prince Hashim to train imams in the tolerant, traditional form of Islam, which incidentally was the traditional form that was found in the Balkans, and in so doing reduce the scope for radicalisation of populations there.

"We can help in drawing attention to the potential benefits of that sort of activity, although it's not military activity and it's not our primary responsibility.

"I think it is our responsibility to make sure that people understand what sort of complementary activity needs to go alongside the security activity that we're directly involved in."