The Ministry of Home Affairs introduced India’s first National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy, named ‘PRAHAAR’, to combat terrorism comprehensively. This policy addresses various security threats like cross-border terrorism, cyber threats, and organized terror networks. It emphasizes India’s experience in fighting terrorism and rejects associating terrorism with any religion, ethnicity, or nationality.
The policy focuses on prevention, rapid response, inter-agency coordination, and upholding human rights and the rule of law. It highlights the challenges posed by cross-border terrorism, state-sponsored terrorism, and the misuse of advanced technologies by terrorist groups. The document emphasizes the importance of dismantling terror support systems and protecting critical infrastructure.
India’s counter-terrorism framework under ‘PRAHAAR’ is based on seven core pillars, including prevention, response, capacity-building, and international cooperation. The strategy aims to address radicalization, strengthen intelligence-sharing, and enhance legal frameworks. It also stresses the need for community engagement, youth initiatives, and socio-economic interventions to combat radicalization effectively.
The policy underscores the importance of modernizing equipment, training, and infrastructure for security agencies. It advocates for a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to enhance preparedness and response mechanisms. The strategy calls for periodic legal reforms, state-level counter-terror enhancements, and investments in emerging technologies to mitigate future threats effectively.
