Striking at the heart of terror

Despite long being both a victim of terrorism and a key actor in combating it, India has never articulated a comprehensive counterterrorism policy. Its response has remained fragmented and operationally driven, lacking an overarching strategic framework. The newly released National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy seeks to fill this wide gap, recognising the networked, adaptive and multi-domain nature of contemporary terrorist groups, and advancing a framework that is anticipatory rather than reactive and strategic rather than episodic.

The document recognises multiple risks across land, air, sea and cyber domains, including threats from drones, dark web financing and CBRNED (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Devices). The response is based on seven pillars - prevention, response, capacity building, human rights, attenuating conditions conducive to terrorism, international alignment and recovery (PRAHAAR). It adopts a whole-of-government approach that stresses the integration of capacities, aligns and shapes international efforts, underscores a commitment to the rule of law, and promotes a whole-of-society approach to recovery and resilience.

GoI rightly reiterates that terrorism cannot be ascribed to any religion, ethnicity, nationality or civilisation. This clarification is important, especially as the document notes that 'few countries in the region have sometimes used terrorism as an instrument of state policy'. Though the implications are clear, the text underscores India's unequivocal denunciation of, and zero tolerance for, terrorism. As a strong first step, the framework would be further strengthened by more explicit integration of digital and financial counterterrorism mechanisms.