New Delhi, Feb 23 (NationPress) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has introduced 'PRAHAAR', India's first-ever comprehensive National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy, a significant step forward in the nation’s persistent battle against terrorism in all its manifestations.

This policy presents a structured national framework designed to tackle complex and evolving security threats, such as cross-border terrorism, drone attacks, cyber threats, and organized terror groups.

The document emphasizes India's extensive experience and leadership in fighting terrorism, firmly rejecting any attempts to associate terrorism with specific religions, ethnicities, nationalities, or civilizations.

It reiterates the government's steadfast zero-tolerance stance on terrorism and violence, while prioritizing support for victims and dismissing any justification for acts of terror, regardless of circumstances.

Addressing regional instability, ungoverned territories, and instances of state-sponsored terrorism, the strategy adopts a multi-faceted approach that focuses on prevention, prompt and proportional responses, enhanced inter-agency collaboration, and strict adherence to human rights and legal principles.

The eight-page policy document, publicly accessible on the MHA website, formalizes a cohesive and institutionalized approach that has guided India's counter-terrorism initiatives amid changing threats.

India's position is clear: terrorism, in any guise, is indefensible, and the nation does not link terrorism to any particular religion, ethnicity, nationality, or civilization.

The policy is anchored in a commitment to protect citizens, uphold human rights, and ensure accountability through established legal and judicial systems.

The term 'PRAHAAR', meaning 'strike', symbolizes seven essential pillars of India's counter-terrorism framework: preventing terrorist attacks, rapid and proportionate response, building capacity within security and intelligence agencies, ensuring human rights-compliant operations, addressing conditions that foster radicalization, enhancing international cooperation, and fostering community resilience and recovery.

The threat assessment segment provides an in-depth analysis of ongoing and emerging challenges confronting India’s security landscape.

Cross-border terrorism remains a significant threat, with extremist groups and affiliated networks attempting to orchestrate attacks. Global terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda and ISIS are actively working to activate sleeper cells and incite violence within India.

Foreign entities have also been accused of trying to undermine internal security, while terrorist operatives are increasingly leveraging advanced technologies, including drones, particularly in sensitive areas such as Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

The document highlights the growing nexus between terror networks and organized crime groups, which facilitate logistics, recruitment, and financial flows.

Digital platforms have become crucial tools for terrorist activities, enabling anonymous communication through social media, encrypted messaging apps, dark web sites, and cryptocurrencies for dissemination of propaganda, recruitment, funding, and operational coordination.

Concerns have been raised regarding attempts to access chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive, and cyber capabilities, along with the rising threat of cyber intrusions from both non-state actors and hostile entities.

Prevention is the cornerstone of the policy, emphasizing intelligence-driven operations and coordinated surveillance.

Institutions like the Multi Agency Centre and the Joint Task Force on Intelligence have been identified as key nodes for real-time intelligence sharing, threat assessment, and coordinated responses.

Security agencies are charged with dismantling support networks for terrorism, including overground worker networks, illegal arms supply chains, and terrorism financing channels.

Border security initiatives include deploying advanced surveillance and detection technologies across land, maritime, and aerial domains.

Critical infrastructure, encompassing power facilities, railways, aviation systems, ports, defense installations, space assets, and atomic energy sites, will receive enhanced protection under this framework.

As part of the response mechanism, local police will serve as the first line of defense in terrorist incidents, supported by specialized state counter-terror units and elite national forces like the National Security Guard during significant operations.

Investigations related to terror offenses will be spearheaded by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), with an emphasis on effective prosecution and achieving high conviction rates.

The policy further stresses the need to bolster institutional capacity through modernization of equipment, training, and infrastructure, alongside standardizing counter-terror mechanisms across states and addressing existing operational gaps.

The framework underscores strict adherence to human rights and legal protections, referencing legislation such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, new criminal codes, and India’s international legal obligations.

It also outlines preventive and corrective measures to combat radicalization, including community engagement, outreach programs involving civil society and religious leaders, youth initiatives, prison monitoring systems, and socio-economic strategies to mitigate vulnerability.

On the international stage, India aims to strengthen intelligence-sharing frameworks, pursue the extradition of terror suspects, and support global actions at the United Nations to designate terrorist entities and deny them safe havens.

The policy embraces a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, fostering collaboration among government agencies, private sector stakeholders, and civil society to enhance preparedness, response, and recovery mechanisms.

Looking forward, the strategy calls for regular legal reforms, fortification of state-level counter-terror frameworks, improved investigatory skills, and increased investment in emerging technologies to counter future threats.

Officials have characterized 'PRAHAAR' as a dynamic and forward-thinking framework aimed at dismantling terror ecosystems, safeguarding national security, and promoting long-term resilience through coordinated and sustained efforts.