New Delhi, February 24: In a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, the Union government on Tuesday unveiled ‘Prahaar’ — a first-of-its-kind comprehensive counter-terrorism policy designed to dismantle terrorist ecosystems, choke funding lines, and counter the emerging spectre of drone and cyber-enabled warfare.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) formally released the policy document, which introduces a seven-pillar framework rooted in the government’s stated “zero tolerance” approach to terrorism. Official sources described it as a dynamic, living document calibrated to meet both traditional threats — including state-sponsored cross-border terrorism — and the rapidly evolving landscape of new-age technological warfare.
While the policy refrains from naming any specific nation, it pulls no punches in diagnosing the threat. It explicitly notes that India has long been a victim of cross-border sponsored terrorism, pointing to instability in the neighbourhood that has created ungoverned spaces exploited by terrorist entities. It also warns that certain countries continue to deploy terrorism as an instrument of State policy, even as global outfits like Al-Qaeda and ISIS attempt to radicalise Indian youth through sleeper cells and online networks.
For the first time, a central counter-terrorism doctrine comprehensively addresses the technological dimension of modern terror. The policy flags serious concerns over terror groups’ increasing use of encryption, the dark web, cryptocurrency wallets, drones and robotics to execute attacks. It also raises red flags over potential threats to critical infrastructure from cyber attacks and the possible use of CBRNED (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive and Digital) materials.
The seven pillars of ‘Prahaar’ comprise prevention, swift response, strengthening internal capacities, adherence to human rights and rule of law, counter-radicalisation, international cooperation and a whole-of-society recovery mechanism. The framework is designed to deny terrorists — and their financiers and supporters — access to funds, weapons, logistics and safe havens.
Officials said intelligence gathering and real-time input-sharing have been accorded top priority. Platforms such as the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) and the Joint Task Force on Intelligence (JTFI) under the Intelligence Bureau will be further fortified to ensure seamless coordination between central agencies and state police forces for swift disruption of terror plots.
A major thrust area is the dismantling of Over Ground Worker (OGW) networks and breaking the terror-crime nexus. The policy calls for tighter scrutiny of illegal arms syndicates and robust legal provisions to curb terror financing.
On the diplomatic front, the government will push for deeper bilateral and multilateral engagement to secure the extradition of fugitives and the designation of global terrorists at the United Nations. The policy also emphasises partnerships with private enterprises and technology stakeholders to prevent the misuse of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for extremist purposes.
Significantly, the MHA has reaffirmed that all anti-terror operations will strictly adhere to human rights principles and the rule of law, with multiple levels of legal redressal available to the accused. The government asserted that national action, backed by international cooperation and community engagement, remains central to tackling the evolving global terror landscape.
