Govt launches new national counter-terrorism policy & strategy ‘PRAHAR’

The Ministry of Home Affairs has unveiled India’s new National Counter-Terrorism Policy and Strategy titled ‘PRAHAR’, aimed at tackling evolving terror threats with a proactive approach.

About PRAHAR

• PRAHAR is India’s first comprehensive national counter-terrorism doctrine.
• PRAHAAR stands for Prevention of terror attacks to protect Indian citizens and interests, Responses, which are swift and proportionate to the threat posed, Aggregating internal capacities for achieving synergy in a whole-of-government approach
• It provides a framework to prevent and counter emerging terror threats.
• Emphasises intelligence-driven and proactive action against terrorism.

Meaning of PRAHAR (7 Pillars)

1. P – Prevention of terror attacks.
2. R – Swift and proportionate Responses.
3. A – Aggregating internal capacities (whole-of-government approach).
4. H – Human-rights and Rule-of-Law-based processes.
5. A – Attenuating conditions enabling terrorism (radicalisation).
6. A – Aligning international counter-terror efforts.
7. R – Recovery and resilience (whole-of-society approach).

Key Features

• Intelligence-led prevention and disruption of terror networks.
• Criminalisation of all terrorist acts.
• Denial of funding, weapons, and safe havens to terrorists.
• Focus on emerging threats like:
  • Cyber radicalisation
  • Drone-based smuggling
  • Cryptocurrency funding
  • Misuse of new technologies

Objectives

• Strengthen coordination among central and state agencies.
• Promote zero-tolerance policy against terrorism.
• Counter cross-border and state-sponsored terrorism.
• Enhance international cooperation against global terror networks.

Significance

• Provides unified national strategy against terrorism.
• Addresses hybrid and technology-driven terror threats.
• Strengthens India’s internal security architecture.

Source: AIR