PRAHAAR: India’s First Comprehensive Anti-Terror Policy and a Shift in National Security Doctrine

India’s fight against terrorism has historically been marked by resilience, operational strength, and periodic institutional reforms. However, for decades, counter-terrorism responses remained fragmented—spread across laws, agencies, and operational doctrines without a single, unified national framework. The launch of PRAHAAR (Policy for Response Against Hostile Activities and Radicalism) marks a decisive break from that past. Rolled out nearly a year after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, PRAHAAR represents India’s first comprehensive anti-terror policy, signaling a mature, doctrine-driven approach to national security.

Why PRAHAAR Was Needed

Terrorism in India has evolved significantly over the years. Earlier challenges were largely confined to localized insurgencies or cross-border infiltration. Today, threats are multi-dimensional—ranging from conventional terror strikes to cyber warfare, drone-based arms drops, online radicalisation, misinformation campaigns, and financial networks operating across borders.

The Pahalgam attack of 2025 acted as a catalyst. While Indian security forces responded with operational efficiency, the attack exposed a broader truth: tactical excellence alone is not enough. A long-term, integrated national policy was needed—one that could align intelligence, technology, law enforcement, diplomacy, and civil society into a single strategic vision. PRAHAAR is the result of that realization.

What Is PRAHAAR?

PRAHAAR is not merely a reactionary document or a short-term counter-terror guideline. It is a national doctrine that lays down India’s principles, priorities, and mechanisms for dealing with hostile activities and radicalisation in all their modern forms. It seeks to move India from a posture of episodic response to one of continuous preparedness and prevention.

At its core, PRAHAAR adopts a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach, recognizing that terrorism is not just a security problem but also a social, economic, technological, and ideological challenge.

Key Pillars of the PRAHAAR Policy

1. Intelligence-Led Prevention

One of the central pillars of PRAHAAR is the emphasis on anticipatory intelligence rather than post-attack investigation. The policy prioritizes real-time intelligence sharing between central and state agencies, integration of databases, and use of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to detect early warning signals.

This marks a shift from siloed intelligence functioning to a networked ecosystem where information flows seamlessly across agencies.

2. Addressing Cross-Border Terrorism

PRAHAAR reaffirms India’s zero-tolerance stance on cross-border terrorism. It institutionalizes mechanisms for coordinated diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and operational responses against states and non-state actors that sponsor or shelter terror networks.

Importantly, the policy recognizes that deterrence today is not only military but also reputational and economic—making global exposure and isolation of terror sponsors a strategic priority.

3. Tackling New-Age Threats: Cyber, Drones, and Digital Radicalisation

Modern terrorism increasingly relies on technology. PRAHAAR explicitly acknowledges threats from:

• Cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure
• Encrypted communication platforms used by terror cells
• Drone-based surveillance and weapons delivery
• Online radicalisation through social media and messaging apps

By formally integrating cyber security and counter-drone strategies into counter-terror doctrine, PRAHAAR aligns India’s security thinking with 21st-century realities.

4. Counter-Radicalisation and Social Resilience

Unlike earlier frameworks that focused largely on armed threats, PRAHAAR devotes significant attention to preventing radicalisation at its source. This includes monitoring extremist propaganda, community outreach programs, educational initiatives, and cooperation with civil society to counter extremist narratives.

The policy acknowledges that durable security cannot be achieved through force alone—it must also address ideological and psychological dimensions.

5. Inter-Agency Coordination and Capacity Building

One of India’s longstanding challenges has been coordination between multiple security and law-enforcement agencies operating at the central and state levels. PRAHAAR seeks to standardize protocols, improve joint training, and clarify institutional roles to reduce duplication and gaps.

Capacity building—through technology upgrades, specialized training, and legal reforms—is positioned as an ongoing process rather than a one-time reform.

Legal and Institutional Implications

While PRAHAAR does not replace existing laws, it provides a strategic umbrella under which legislation, investigation agencies, and enforcement mechanisms can operate with greater coherence. It also strengthens the policy foundation for future legal reforms related to terror financing, cyber crimes, and emerging security threats.

By clearly defining terrorism and hostile activities in contemporary terms, PRAHAAR reduces ambiguity and enhances accountability within institutions.

Strategic Significance for India

The rollout of PRAHAAR carries significance beyond immediate security concerns. It signals to adversaries that India’s response to terrorism is now predictable in intent but flexible in execution. This predictability strengthens deterrence, as hostile actors understand that attacks will trigger calibrated, multi-layered responses rather than isolated reactions.

Internationally, PRAHAAR enhances India’s credibility as a responsible security actor. It aligns India with global best practices while retaining strategic autonomy, making cooperation with international partners more structured and effective.

Challenges Ahead

No policy, however comprehensive, is immune to challenges. PRAHAAR’s success will depend on consistent implementation, political consensus, and adaptability to rapidly changing threat landscapes. Federal coordination, data privacy concerns, and balancing security with civil liberties will require careful management.

However, by explicitly acknowledging these complexities rather than ignoring them, PRAHAAR starts from a position of realism rather than idealism.

Conclusion

PRAHAAR represents a turning point in India’s national security architecture. By moving beyond reactive counter-terrorism and embracing a holistic, forward-looking doctrine, India has laid the groundwork for a more resilient and adaptive security ecosystem.

Nearly a year after the Pahalgam tragedy, PRAHAAR stands as both a response to loss and a declaration of intent—an assertion that India will confront terrorism not just with courage on the ground, but with clarity of strategy, unity of purpose, and preparedness for the future.