Countering Terrorism in India

The deadly car blast near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort on November 10, 2025 November 10, 2025, has thrust India’s national security concerns into sharp focus. The Delhi Police has registered an FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA),1967 and launched an intensive probe, suspecting the involvement of organized terror networks. The challenge lies in swiftly unravelling terror networks while fostering unity in a diverse society vulnerable to divisive forces. It highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive counterterrorism strategy that integrates strong intelligence coordination, proactive policing, and advanced forensic capabilities. 

How does Terrorism Persist as a Threat to India’s Internal Security and Strategic Interests? 

• Cross-border Terrorism and Insurgency: India’s long-standing challenge with cross-border terrorism, especially emanating from Pakistan, remains significant. 
  • Groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) continue to orchestrate attacks in Jammu & Kashmir and beyond.  
  • Recent incidents, including the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, underscore the persistent infiltration threat despite enhanced border security. 
    • According to data from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), India witnessed around 7,217 terrorist incidents between 2004 and 2014, which declined sharply to approximately 2,242 incidents during 2014–2024, reflecting a significant improvement in the internal security situation. 
  • However, despite this decline, cross-border terrorism remains a persistent challenge, with continued infiltration attempts and proxy operations from Pakistan-based groups posing a serious threat to India’s long-term internal security and regional stability. 
• Urban Terrorism and Symbolic Attacks: The 2025 Red Fort car blast reflects a rising trend of urban terrorism targeting symbolic national sites to create psychological impact.  
  • The use of ammonium nitrate explosives and urban anonymity exposed gaps in civil security infrastructure. 
  • Emerging forms like white-collar terrorism, involving educated professionals such as Umar Nabi, linked to Pakistan-based terror outfits, highlight how technical expertise, financial access, and digital networks are exploited. 
  • Strengthening urban security architecture against networked and white-collar terror threats is crucial for national resilience. 
• Domestic Radicalization and  Ideological Polarization: The rise of homegrown terrorists, cultivated through local grievances and online propaganda, presents a less visible but equally perilous risk.  
  • Recent assessments have indicated a notable rise in arrests linked to domestic radicalization across several Indian states, including Kerala, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand, reflecting the growing threat of homegrown extremism. 
  • The decentralization of terror cells complicates monitoring and prevention, demanding community vigilance and tailored deradicalization programs. 
  • Terrorism often exploits socio-religious divisions to incite instability, leading to a surge in communal violence following major attacks.  
    • In 2024, India witnessed 59 communal riots, marking an 84% increase from 32 incidents in 2023, reflecting the growing link between terror activities and communal polarization, according to the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism. 
• Maritime Security Threats: India’s 7,500 km coastline and strategic ports face rising maritime terrorism threats. Non-state actors exploit vulnerabilities for smuggling arms, explosives, and operatives.  
  • Indian Navy intelligence (2024) revealed attempts by terrorist operatives to gain maritime access via illicit shipments in the Arabian Sea.  
  • The infiltration of arms through sea routes demands increased naval patrolling, coastal surveillance, and international maritime cooperation. 
• Cyberterrorism and Emerging Technologies: Terrorist groups increasingly use cyber tools—including encrypted communication, data theft, and social media propaganda—raising the threat of cyberterrorism.  
  • The National Cyber Security Coordinator’s 2025 report noted terror groups deploying ransomware and phishing campaigns to disrupt infrastructure and recruit online. 
  • The use of drones in northeastern insurgencies illustrates how technology is reshaping terrorism. 
  • Diversified terror tactics now include potential chemical and biological attacks. 
  • A foiled 2025 plot in Uttar Pradesh involving chemical agents highlights terrorists’ attempts to acquire unconventional weapons.  
• Intelligence and Coordination Gaps: India’s intelligence network comprises more than 20 agencies, including the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau (IB), National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), and National Investigation Agency (NIA), each with distinct operational mandates.  
  • However, issues such as fragmented data sharing, overlapping jurisdictions, and siloed functioning often weaken collective efficiency. 
  • Although the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) was established to facilitate inter-agency intelligence exchange, it continues to operate under executive orders rather than a statutory framework, resulting in limited transparency and accountability.  
  • Furthermore, inadequate technological training among state police forces and the uneven use of modern data analytics tools hinder real-time threat detection and response. 
• Hybrid Warfare and Proxy Conflicts: India faces hybrid warfare, where state and non-state actors employ covert, proxy, and cyber tactics to destabilize.  
  • The China-Pakistan nexus in fostering insurgencies exemplifies this new-age hybrid threat.  
  • Indian Army operations in border regions underscore the need for adaptability, intelligence modernization, and strategic preparedness. 

What are the Key Elements of India’s Counterterrorism Security Framework? 

• Legal and Policy Framework: 
  • Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967: The primary anti-terror legislation empowering the government to ban terrorist organizations, seize assets, and designate individuals as terrorists.  
    • It provides the legal foundation for prosecution and preventive detention. 
  • National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, 2008: Created post the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the NIA investigates terrorism-related offences across states, ensuring a centralized, specialized probe mechanism. 
  • National Security Act (NSA), 1980: Enables preventive detention of individuals threatening national security or public order. 
  • Policy Initiatives: Frameworks like the National Counter Terrorism Strategy, National Security Policy (Draft), and Counter Radicalization Guidelines focus on prevention, deterrence, and capacity building. 
• Institutional Mechanisms: 
  • National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS):Headed by the National Security Advisor (NSA), it coordinates inter-agency responses, formulates security strategies, and integrates defense, intelligence, and diplomacy. 
  • Multi-Agency Centre (MAC): Established under the Intelligence Bureau (IB) in 2001, it serves as a real-time intelligence-sharing hub linking central and state intelligence units to prevent lapses in threat detection. 
  • National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO): A technical intelligence agency under the NSA, focusing on cyber threats, satellite intelligence, and signal interception. 
  • Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA): Coordinates military intelligence from Army, Navy, and Air Force, ensuring synergy between civilian and defense intelligence frameworks. 
• Security Forces and Operational Units: 
  • National Security Guard (NSG): India’s elite counterterrorism and hostage-rescue force, established post the 1984 Operation Blue Star, and known for swift response in urban terror situations. 
  • Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs): Forces like CRPF, BSF, ITBP, and CISF are vital in border management, internal security, and critical infrastructure protection. 
  • Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATS): State-level specialized units coordinate with central agencies for localized counterterrorism operations and intelligence inputs. 
  • Special Forces and Commandos: Units like Para SF, MARCOS, and Garud Commandos handle covert operations, cross-border responses, and anti-hijack missions. 
• Intelligence and Surveillance Network: 
  • Intelligence Bureau (IB): India’s domestic intelligence agency, engaged in counterintelligence, infiltration tracking, and internal threat assessment. 
  • Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW): Responsible for external intelligence, particularly on cross-border terrorist networks and state-sponsored terrorism. 
  • NATGRID (National Intelligence Grid): Integrates data from 21 databases (banking, immigration, telecom, etc.) to enable real-time information access for authorized agencies. 
  • Cyber Security Division: Strengthened through the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and CERT-In, countering cyberterrorism and online radicalization. 

What Measures are Required to Ensure a Comprehensive Counterterrorism Policy in India? 

• Enhance Inter-Agency Coordination and Intelligence Sharing: India must institutionalize a robust, centralized intelligence-sharing ecosystem through expanded fusion centers and real-time data integration.  
  • The Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) has become a key pillar of India’s counterterrorism architecture, facilitating real-time intelligence exchange and coordinated multi-agency operations. 
  • Building on this foundation, the creation of National Fusion Centers and the strengthening of State-level counterparts will help minimize bureaucratic delays and enable swift, unified responses.  
  • Through operations such as Project Sindoor and Operation Black Forest, the government aims to shift from a reactive system to a proactive and preventive security framework, ensuring faster and more integrated counterterror responses across the nation. 
• Leverage Advanced Technology and Cybersecurity: To keep pace with evolving terror tactics, India must expand the use of AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics for surveillance and threat assessment.  
  • The 2025 India-EU counter-drone training led by the National Security Guard (NSG) exemplifies successful adoption of cutting-edge technology.  
  • CERT-In’s proactive cyber defense should be enhanced to protect critical infrastructure from cyberterrorism, while countering online radicalization and recruitment. 
• Strengthen Legal Framework and Fast-Track Judicial Processes: Modifying laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is vital to address emerging threats and the complexities of modern terrorism, while ensuring safeguards against misuse.  
  • Establishing special anti-terrorism courts will expedite trials, improving conviction rates and deterrence, as seen after the Pulwama and Pathankot attacks, where swift trials proved crucial. 
  • India must tighten laws and enforcement mechanisms to block terror financing channels, aligning with FATF standards.  
    • Enhanced cyber surveillance and private-sector collaboration are vital to trace cryptocurrency misuse and online funding platforms exploited by terror networks. 
• Upgrade Border and Maritime Security: India’s security architecture must include multi-layered infrastructure—such as smart fencing, thermal imaging, and coastal radar systems—supported by enhanced naval and paramilitary patrols.  
  • Regional cooperation through BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is essential for maritime surveillance, anti-smuggling, and trade route protection. 
  • Frequent, joint counterterrorism exercises involving multiple agencies improve response efficiency and interoperability.  
• Deepen International and Regional Security Cooperation: Active participation in SCO, G20, and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Forum facilitates intelligence sharing, joint operations, and policy harmonization. 
  • Bilateral initiatives like the India-Egypt Joint Working Group demonstrate the value of strategic partnerships in tackling transnational terror networks and terror financing. 
  • Beyond military measures, India should continue to employ diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions to isolate terror sponsors and state actors supporting terrorism.  
    • Operation Sindoor combined strategic strikes with diplomatic engagement, ensuring global support and reinforcing deterrence without escalation. 
• Promote Community Engagement and Counter-Radicalization: Drawing from Singapore and Norway’s models, India should expand community-centered programs to address socio-economic grievances and ideological vulnerabilities. 
  • Educational outreach, vocational training, and rehabilitation initiatives for at-risk populations will strengthen societal resilience and curb extremist recruitment. 
  • India’s existing initiatives, such as the National Counter Terrorism Centre’s community engagement programs and Skill Development schemes for vulnerable youth, can be expanded and made more culturally sensitive by integrating international best practices, thereby strengthening grassroots resilience and counter-radicalization efforts. 

Conclusion:  

As scholar Bruce Hoffman notes, "Terrorism is the deliberate creation and exploitation of fear through violence or the threat of violence in the pursuit of political change." To effectively counter such threats, India must strengthen inter-agency coordination, enhance technological capabilities, and fast-track judicial processes while fostering community resilience through inclusive counter-radicalization programs. The way forward lies in sustained political will, resource commitment, and embracing global best practices to secure peace and uphold democratic values amidst the dynamic threat landscape. 

Drishti Mains Question: Discuss the key challenges India faces in effectively countering terrorism? How can India evolve a multi-dimensional strategy to combat emerging terrorist threats?