With the unveiling of the comprehensive counter-terrorism policy, Prahaar, the Union Government has signalled a decisive shift from episodic responses to a structured, doctrine-driven strategy. The seven-pillar framework-spanning prevention, response, capacity aggregation, rule of law, de-radicalisation, international alignment and societal resilience-reflects an understanding that terrorism is no longer a static threat. It is adaptive, technology-driven and increasingly insidious. Reshaping India’s counter-terrorism strategy, therefore, is not merely desirable; it is imperative.
Long before the world grasped the scale and sophistication of transnational terror networks, India was confronting proxy war, cross-border militancy and radical insurgencies. Punjab endured one of the worst forms of terror in the 1980s and early 1990s, while Jammu and Kashmir became the epicentre of sustained, externally sponsored militancy for decades. The global community may have realised the enormity of the threat after 9/11, but for India, terrorism has been a lived reality for nearly four decades. Despite the relentless efforts of security forces, intelligence agencies, and policymakers, the scourge has not been completely eradicated. While the scale and frequency of terror incidents have significantly diminished compared to the peak years, the threat persists in mutated forms. Attempts to revive dormant networks, exploit communal fault lines and infiltrate through technological channels are ongoing. Complacency, therefore, is not an option.
The recent Red Fort security breach in New Delhi underscores this evolving dimension. What transpired was not merely an isolated act but a disturbing reminder that terror planners are seeking new fronts. The spectre of “white-collar terrorism”-where educated professionals are radicalised and recruited-marks a dangerous shift. The use of digital platforms, encrypted messaging applications and ideological grooming to influence even doctors and other members of the educated class reveals a deep and calculated strategy. Terrorism today is not confined to gun-toting militants in remote terrains; it has penetrated the digital ecosystem and, alarmingly, sections of the intellectual class.
The seven-pillar policy appears crafted with this transformation in mind. It recognises terrorism as a self-evolving phenomenon, constantly adapting methods of recruitment, financing and execution. One of the central planks of the new doctrine is choking financial arteries. Systematic crackdowns on hawala operators, monitoring of digital and crypto transactions, and attachment or demolition of properties belonging to active supporters are not merely punitive actions; they are strategic attempts to break the backbone of terror infrastructure. Without funds, logistics and safe havens, extremist modules struggle to sustain their operations.
Equally significant is the intensified focus on counter-drone measures. Investing in anti-drone technology, enhancing border surveillance, and integrating intelligence inputs in real-time reflect a proactive shift. Intelligence remains the fulcrum of counter-terrorism. The strengthening of platforms such as the Multi-Agency Centre for seamless information sharing indicates an acknowledgement that fragmented intelligence is ineffective intelligence.
However, reshaping strategy is not solely about kinetic measures. The policy’s emphasis on involving intellectuals, civil society members, psychologists and community leaders to counter radicalisation is a welcome and forward-looking step. Terror ideologies thrive on narratives of victimhood, alienation and perceived injustice. Countering these narratives requires credible voices within society. India’s approach has consistently avoided knee-jerk reactions. Even while confronting grave provocations, the state has sought to balance national security imperatives with adherence to human rights and the rule of law. Protecting civilian lives while targeting perpetrators remains a cornerstone of India’s strategy.
At the same time, India has demonstrated that restraint does not equate to weakness. Calibrated actions against terror camps, diplomatic offensives to isolate sponsors of terrorism and economic measures aimed at signalling consequences form part of a broader deterrence architecture. The message from the Home Ministry is unequivocal: every financial conduit, arms supply chain and sleeper module will be tracked and neutralised before it can strike. The unveiling of Prahaar is thus more than a policy announcement; it is a doctrinal consolidation. The road ahead remains challenging. Yet the clarity of intent-zero tolerance, no complacency and relentless pursuit of every module-sends a powerful signal. In a battle that India has fought long before the world recognised its magnitude, the reshaped strategy reflects both hard-earned experience and a resolve to ensure that terror finds no space, overt or covert, to survive.
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