According to a report by UN political chief presented to the Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Islamic State (IS) extremist group has not been weakened strategically or irreversibly despite military setbacks in Iraq and Syria where the IS controls significant swathes of territory. The report further states that the IS may also be moving into a new phase, ‘elevating’ the role of its affiliates by moving funds out of the conflict areas, and increasing the risk of international attacks. Besides these developments, for the first time since the declaration of ‘caliphate’ in June 2014, the IS is under financial pressure with international air strikes reducing oil production by approximately 30 to 50 percent. But the group is using other tactics to shore up revenues including taxation and extortion. Moreover, the group is also earning unknown amounts of money through smuggling of antiquities outside the region. The report further emphasises that the IS may attempt to generate revenue from kidnapping international hostages, moving funds internationally through formal and informal channels, and converting local currency into gold or other commodities, which can be moved around the world easily. Furthermore, a significant number of foreign terrorist fighters continue to travel to join the group through indirect journeys and false or stolen travel documents. The IS cannot be curbed by mere airstrikes as it controls vast swathes of land including some strategic locations in the region. Moreover, the continuous inflow of arms and ammunition also poses a significant threat. Although the airstrikes are useful on certain occasions, it cannot sufficiently curb the established network of the group due to lack of ground troops of the coalition against the IS. For this purpose, until the financing as well as ammunition sources are not curbed, it would be tough to suppress the group. Furthermore, the affiliation of the group with extremist organisations around the world also poses a significant threat. As has also been mentioned in the report, the group is diversifying and might be moving funds out of the conflict zones to plan attacks internationally. Furthermore, the continuous oil trade as well as smuggling of goods including antiquities also need to be curbed to tighten the financial noose on the group. The group is feared to be smuggling precious artifacts not only from Iraq and Syria but also Libya and Yemen. The coalition against the IS needs to focus on the trade links and arms suppliers of the IS to gain a strategic advantage over the group. Furthermore, the international networks of the group need to be targeted to avoid any incidents. The nations fighting against the IS are not aligned at the moment. The tensions between some of the countries like Russia and the US, and Iran and Saudi Arabia, have impacted the fight against the IS. The issue of the overthrowing of Bashar al-Assad had strained the fight against the group. Russia has been accused of targeting rebel groups who are fighting to overthrow Assad’s government. Similarly, Iran and Saudi Arabia are at odds on the issue, as the latter wishes to see the removal of Assad. In light of these developments, the coalition should realise that it cannot afford to bring personal rivalries in matters of such significance. All the countries fighting against the IS should be on the same line to achieve any success against the group, which is wreaking havoc on a large number of lives, leaving traces of barbarity the parallel of which is hard to find in modern history. Terrorism and violence of IS or any other terrorist group is not limited to one faith, one ethnicity or one nation. It is against all who oppose their ideology of violence-for-power. It is, therefore, imperative for the entire world to unite to eliminate terrorism, be it in Africa, Europe, Asia, America or Australia. Beyond all lines of caste, colour and creed.*