India Fighting Against Terrorism in 2025

Introduction

The fight against terrorism is a relentless, ever-mutating conflict.The fatal automobile explosion that occurred on November 10, 2025, close to Delhi’s famous Red Fort, has brought India’s national security issues into stark relief. Suspecting the involvement of organized terror networks, the Delhi Police filed a formal complaint under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, and began a thorough investigation. The difficulty is breaking up terror networks quickly while promoting harmony in a multicultural society that is susceptible to polarizing influences. It draws attention to the pressing need for an all-encompassing counterterrorism policy that incorporates proactive policing, robust intelligence coordination, and cutting-edge forensic capabilities.

How Does Terrorism Continue to Endanger India’s Strategic Interests and Internal Security?

• Cross-border Terrorism and Insurgency
  • India has historically struggled with cross-border terrorism, particularly from Pakistan.
  • Attacks in Jammu & Kashmir and elsewhere are still planned by organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
  • Recent events, such as the Pahalgam attack in April 2025, highlight the ongoing threat of infiltration despite increased border security.
  • India saw over 7,217 terrorist attacks between 2004 and 2014, according to data from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). These incidents dramatically decreased to about 2,242 incidents between 2014 and 2024, indicating a notable improvement in the country’s internal security situation.
  • Even so, cross-border terrorism is still a major danger to India’s long-term internal security and regional stability due to ongoing infiltration attempts and proxy operations by Pakistani-based organizations.
• Urban Terrorism and Symbolic Attacks
  • The Red Fort automobile explosion in 2025 is indicative of an increasing trend of urban terrorism that aims to psychologically affect symbolic national locations.
  • Urban anonymity and the use of ammonium nitrate bombs revealed weaknesses in the civil security system.
  • New types of terrorism, such as white-collar terrorism, which involves educated professionals like Umar Nabi connected to terror groups in Pakistan, show how financial resources, digital networks, and technical know-how are abused.
  • For the country to be resilient, urban security architecture must be strengthened against networked and white-collar terror threats.
• Ideological polarization and domestic radicalization
  • A less obvious but no less dangerous threat is the emergence of domestic terrorists, who are fostered by local grievances and internet propaganda.
  • The growing threat of homegrown extremism is reflected in recent evaluations that show a significant increase in arrests connected to domestic radicalization in a number of Indian states, including Kerala, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand.
  • Terror cell dispersal makes monitoring and prevention more difficult, necessitating community awareness and specialized deradicalization initiatives.
  • In order to create instability, terrorism frequently takes advantage of socio-religious differences, which might result in a spike in intercommunal violence after significant assaults.
  • According to the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, there were 59 communal riots in India in 2024, an 84% rise from 32 events in 2023. This indicates the rising connection between terrorism and communal division.
• Risks to Maritime Security
  • India’s vital ports and 7,500 kilometers of coastline are under increasing threat from maritime terrorism. Vulnerabilities are used by non-state actors to smuggle weapons, explosives, and operatives.
  • Terrorist agents attempted to obtain marine access through illegal shipments in the Arabian Sea, according to Indian Navy data from 2024.
  • Increased naval patrolling, coastline surveillance, and international maritime cooperation are necessary due to the entrance of weapons through sea routes.
• Cyberattacks and New Technologies
  • The threat of cyberterrorism is increased by terrorist organizations’ growing use of cyber technologies, such as data theft, encrypted communication, and social media promotion.
  • Terrorist organizations are using ransomware and phishing efforts to disrupt infrastructure and recruit online, according to the National Cyber Security Coordinator’s 2025 report.
  • One example of how technology is changing terrorism is the use of drones in northeastern insurgencies.
  • Potential chemical and biological attacks are increasingly part of diversified terror strategies.
  • Terrorists’ attempts to obtain unconventional weapons are highlighted by a plot involving chemical agents that was thwarted in Uttar Pradesh in 2025.

What Constitutes India’s Counterterrorism Security Framework?

• Legal and Policy Framework
  • The main anti-terror statute, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967, gives the government the authority to outlaw terrorist groups, confiscate property, and label individuals as terrorists.
  • It offers the legal basis for both preventive detention and prosecution.
  • The 2008 National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act: The NIA was established in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to provide a centralized, specialized investigative framework for terrorism-related offenses across states.
  • Preventive detention of those who pose a threat to public order or national security is made possible under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980.
  • Initiatives for Policy: Prevention, deterrence, and capacity building are the main goals of frameworks such as the National Counter Terrorism Strategy, National Security Policy (Draft), and Counter Radicalization Guidelines.
• Institutional Mechanisms
  • Under the direction of the National Security Advisor (NSA), the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) integrates defense, intelligence, and diplomacy while coordinating interagency responses and developing security plans.
  • Multi-Agency Center (MAC): Founded in 2001 under the Intelligence Bureau (IB), MAC acts as a hub for real-time intelligence exchange between state and central intelligence units, preventing gaps in threat detection.
  • The National Technical Research Organization (NTRO) is an NSA technical intelligence agency that specializes in signal interception, satellite intelligence, and cyber threats.
  • The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) ensures coordination between civilian and defense intelligence systems by coordinating military intelligence from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
• Operational Units and Security Forces
  • India’s elite counterterrorism and hostage-rescue unit, the National Security Guard (NSG), was founded during Operation Blue Star in 1984 and is renowned for its quick response to urban terror incidents.
  • Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs): Organizations such as the CRPF, BSF, ITBP, and CISF are essential for managing borders, maintaining internal security, and safeguarding important infrastructure.
  • Anti-Terrorism Squads (ATS): State-level specialist units work with central agencies to coordinate intelligence inputs and localized counterterrorism activities.
  • Special Forces and Commandos: Covert operations, cross-border responses, and anti-hijack missions are handled by units such as Para SF, MARCOS, and Garud Commandos.
• Surveillance and Intelligence Network
  • India’s domestic intelligence organization, the Intelligence Bureau (IB), is involved in internal threat assessment, infiltration monitoring, and counterintelligence.
  • The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is in charge of gathering external intelligence, especially on state-sponsored terrorism and transnational terrorist networks.
  • The National Intelligence Grid, or NATGRID: enables real-time information access for authorized authorities by integrating data from 21 databases (banking, immigration, telecom, etc.).
  • The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and CERT-In have strengthened the Cyber Security Division, which fights online radicalization and cyberterrorism.

What Steps Must India Take to Guarantee a Comprehensive Counterterrorism Policy?

• Improve Intelligence Sharing and Interagency Coordination
  • India has to develop its fusion centers and integrate real-time data in order to establish a strong, centralized intelligence-sharing ecosystem.
  • A crucial component of India’s counterterrorism framework, the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) enables coordinated multi-agency operations and real-time intelligence sharing.
  • Building on this foundation, the establishment of National Fusion Centers and the bolstering of State-level counterparts will facilitate quick, coordinated responses and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.
  • The government hopes to transition from a reactive system to a proactive and preventive security framework through initiatives like Project Sindoor and Operation Black Forest, guaranteeing quicker and more comprehensive counterterrorism responses nationwide.
• Utilize Cutting-Edge Technology and Cybersecurity
  • India has to increase its use of AI, machine learning, and predictive analytics for threat assessment and monitoring in order to stay up with changing terror tactics.
  • The National Security Guard’s (NSG) 2025 India-EU counter-drone training is an example of how cutting-edge technology has been successfully adopted.
  • In order to prevent cyberterrorism and combat online radicalization and recruitment, CERT-In’s proactive cyber defense should be strengthened.
• Boost the legal system and expedite the court system
  • In order to meet new dangers and the complexity of contemporary terrorism while maintaining protections against abuse, legislation such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) must be modified.
  • As seen by the Pulwama and Pathankot assaults, where prompt trials were essential, the establishment of special anti-terrorism tribunals will speed up trials, increasing conviction rates and deterrence.
  • In accordance with FATF guidelines, India must strengthen its legal framework and enforcement tactics to prevent terrorist financing.
  • To track down cryptocurrency abuse and online funding platforms used by terror networks, increased cyber monitoring and private sector cooperation are essential.
• Boost Maritime and Border Security
  • Smart fence, thermal imaging, and coastal radar systems are examples of multi-layered infrastructure that must be part of India’s security architecture and backed by increased navy and paramilitary patrols.
  • Protection of commercial routes, anti-smuggling, and marine surveillance all depend on regional collaboration through BIMSTEC and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
  • Regular, cooperative counterterrorism drills involving several agencies enhance interoperability and reaction effectiveness.

Conclusion

India’s fight against terrorism demands a unified and forward-looking approach. Stronger intelligence sharing, better technology, faster justice, and secure borders are essential. At the same time, preventing radicalization and protecting social harmony must remain central. With coordinated institutions and sustained public cooperation, India can build a safer environment and reduce the threats that target its stability and progress.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Sources:

• https://www.ncib.in/anti-terrorism-unit.php
• https://www.mha.gov.in/en/divisionofmha/counter-terrorism-and-counter-radicalization-division
• https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/HRBodies/HRCouncil/AdvisoryCom/Terrorism/NHRC_India_2.pdf
• https://www.pminewyork.gov.in/IndiaatUNSC?id=NDEzNw
• https://www.un.org/counterterrorism/
• https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/40120/India_and_EU_hold_15th_CounterTerrorism_Dialogue