The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday unveiled ‘Prahaar’, India’s first comprehensive counter-terrorism policy, describing it as a forward-looking framework to tackle emerging and traditional threats in a coordinated, intelligence-driven manner. Named after the Hindi word for “strike,” the policy formalises a “zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, aiming to strengthen both preventive and responsive measures while upholding human rights and the rule of law.”
“Seven-Pillar Strategy to Combat Terror”
Prahaar is structured around seven pillars, each forming a crucial element of India’s anti-terror strategy. The pillars, represented by each letter in the acronym, include prevention, response, aggregating internal capacities, human rights and rule-of-law processes, attenuating conditions enabling terrorism, aligning international counter-terror efforts, and recovery and resilience through a whole-of-society approach.
The policy focuses on intelligence-led prevention, proactive disruption of online terror propaganda, monitoring overground operatives, and preventing access to arms, funding, and safe havens. It also emphasises swift and proportionate response to incidents, including coordinated action by central and state law enforcement agencies, National Investigation Agency (NIA) probes, and backup by National Security Guard (NSG) units where required.
Union officials said that Prahaar is designed to deny terrorists, their financiers, and supporters access to resources, whether within India or abroad, while adapting to the technological evolution of terror threats.
“Zero Tolerance, No Religious Attribution”
Prahaar underscores “India’s zero-tolerance policy” toward terrorism. It explicitly states that violent acts can never be justified and that terrorism cannot be associated with any religion, ethnicity, or civilisation. It also points out that some neighbouring countries have, at times, used terrorism as an instrument of state policy.
The policy signals India’s intent to criminalise all terrorist acts while ensuring victim support and transparent enforcement. It integrates legal safeguards under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosives Substances Act, Arms Act, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, and recent Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita codes, offering multiple levels of judicial redress and appeal.
“Addressing Cross-Border, Tech-Enabled, and Hybrid Threats”
Prahaar flags ongoing challenges from cross-border sponsored terrorism, naming global terror organisations such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS for attempting to operate sleeper cells within India. The policy also highlights new threats, including drone attacks in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir, misuse of cyber platforms, encryption, dark web networks, and crypto wallets, and the growing nexus between terror outfits and organised crime for logistics, recruitment, and financing.
By integrating technology-enabled intelligence, the framework aims to detect and neutralise threats before they materialise. The strategy also includes measures to prevent access to CBRNED materials—chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive, and digital—ensuring readiness against emerging unconventional threats.
“Community Engagement and De-Radicalisation”
Beyond enforcement, Prahaar calls for community-level engagement. It involves doctors, psychologists, lawyers, NGOs, and religious and local leaders in sensitising vulnerable communities and rehabilitating individuals affected by extremist influences. Graded counter-radicalisation measures focus on socio-economic development, education, and constructive engagement, addressing the root causes that may drive youths toward extremist ideologies.
Global Cooperation and Strategic Alignment
The policy underlines India’s commitment to international cooperation through treaties, extradition, deportation under UN norms, and intelligence sharing. It calls for alignment with global counter-terror measures, including monitoring misuse of information and communication technologies by non-state actors.
“Strengthening Domestic Counter-Terror Architecture”
Prahaar mandates modernisation of law enforcement and counter-terror units with advanced tools, technology, and training, along with uniform anti-terror structures across central, state, and district levels. It stresses collaboration among agencies for intelligence collection, investigation, and a uniform standard operating procedure to enhance rapid and proportionate response.
By creating a proactive, intelligence-driven, rights-based counter-terror ecosystem, Prahaar “positions India to confront evolving threats, both domestic and international, while reassuring citizens of their safety and civil liberties.” Officials describe the policy as a milestone in India’s counter-terror strategy, aiming to reduce the frequency of attacks and make India a global leader in coordinated counter-terrorism.
