Richa Sharma, Vivek Jha, Muskaan Grover
The word terrorism is derived from the French term ‘terrorisme’, which is further based on the Latin word ‘terrere’, carrying the meaning ‘to cause to tremble’. Different legal and government agencies use varied definitions of the term. In simpler terms, terrorism can be defined as strategies of violence, social threats, and coordinated attacks undertaken to elicit fear and cause disruption to bring about compliance with specific political, religious, and ideological demands (Babu, 2010).
The diverse ideologies and motivations fuelling terrorism make it a complex issue. Organizations and states use it as a policy tool for achieving their political objectives. Since its independence, India has been combatting terrorism and is a significant target of terrorist groups even today. It is often said that India lives in the region known to be the epicenter of global terrorism (Garge, 2019).
India’s Legislative Approach Towards Anti-Terrorism
In India, for the longest time, required attention was not given to legislation that would help deter access to terrorist groups and their support structures to operate. Early incidents of terror in India were treated as law and order issues. The investigation and prosecution were carried out through penal provisions of the major laws like the then Indian Penal Code(IPC), the Indian Explosives Act, and the Indian Arms Act (Garge, 2019).
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1985 (TADA) And Prevention Of Terrorism Act, 2002 (POTA)
The first two anti-terrorist-centric legislations were TADA and POTA, respectively.
TADA was the primary legislation used in the cases of terrorism and organized crime at that time. The act was created with Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India’s assassination, as the backdrop. It not only defined terrorist acts and disruptive activities but also enhanced the powers to detain suspects with restrictions on the grant of bail. The law also made confessions to the police officer admissible as evidence, and separate courts were set up to file cases under this act.
POTA was a consequence of the uproar for stringent laws on anti-terror post the 1999, IC-814 Hijack and the 2001 Parliament Attack. Under this act, a suspect could be detained for 180 days. While fundraising for funding terrorist activity was also established as a terrorist activity, the act also had a separate chapter on terrorist organizations.
TADA was enacted in 1985 but lapsed in 1995 because of the widespread allegations that it was being gravely misused. POTA, enacted in 2002, also relapsed in 2004 on similar grounds as that of TADA. Both acts faced severe criticism for alleged human rights abuses (“Rethink the New UAPA,” 2012).
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2008 (UAPA)
The UAPA came into existence in 1967 and put reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression and the right to assemble peacefully. It was after POTA was repealed in 2004 that the Indian Parliament amended UAPA in 2008, changing its character and making it more anti-terror-centric (Babu, 2010).
The amendment of UAPA in 2008 was a landmark event. Section 15 now defines what a ‘terrorist act’ is, followed by a list of offenses to be prosecuted as terror acts under this legislation (Garge, 2019).
Section 17 was amended to punish a person for collecting, providing, or having knowledge about funds to be used for terrorist activities. Section 18A was added to deal with the offense of organizing camps to impart terrorism training, and Section 18B was added to address the recruitment of any person for carrying out a terrorist act (Babu, 2010).
Supporting the UAPA by the Parliament, several state governments initiated state-specific legislation aiming to maintain security and order. The Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) was a direct consequence of it. AFSPA provides special legal and operational cover to the armed forces. While AFSPA cannot be categorized as anti-terror legislation, it works towards enabling the armed forces to deal with situations in the disturbed areas (Garge, 2019).
India’s Administrative Measures towards Anti-Terrorism
India has adopted different administrative measures for different regions of the country to counter terrorism. Jammu & Kashmir and North-East India are the most affected regions by terrorist activities. In J&K, India adopted a multipronged approach with the help of the government to tackle terrorism, which may also include cross-border infiltration if needed, for example, the Balakot (Jabbar Top) strike by the Indian Air Force on 27 February 2019 (Das, 2024). On the other hand, in the northeast, the Government adopted the approach of negotiation and dialogue with various insurgent groups and also focused on infrastructure development and security initiatives to maintain the peace and prosperity in the region.
Administrative measures to tackle terrorism also include the deployment of Central paramilitary forces to augment the state police forces, and participation in various joint working group meetings with foreign countries and international organisations, for example, the 5th meeting of the India-Italy Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime was held on 16-17 January 2025 in Rome, Italy (MEA,2025). Measures have been taken after analyzing domestic, regional, and international terrorist threats, and a wide range of areas of cooperation to tackle them.
Improving intelligence and surveillance capabilities has been another focus area in countering terrorism (India’s Struggle with Terrorism: Challenges and Responses, 2024). The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Intelligence Bureau (IB), Multi Agency Centre (MAC), National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), and Combat Financing Terrorism (CFT) are the agencies that play crucial role in dealing with terrorism (Nagial, 2020). The National Investigation Agency (NIA) was constituted under the NIA Act 2008 as a special agency for the investigation and prosecution of persons who commit offenses related to terrorist activities. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has played a crucial role in combating terrorism, particularly by targeting the extensive networks operating in Jammu and Kashmir. A key focus of the NIA has been dismantling financial channels that support terrorist activities. By curbing the flow of funds, the agency has significantly weakened the networks of separatists, overground workers (OGWs), and stone pelters, especially in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack in 2019. This financial crackdown has been instrumental in disrupting terrorism-related activities in the region (Hasnain, 2024).
India has established several key organizations and mechanisms to strengthen its counter-terrorism efforts. The Multi Agency Centre (MAC) plays a vital role by facilitating intelligence sharing among various agencies, ensuring better coordination and swift response. It also maintains the National Memory Bank integrated with the Threat Management System, aiding in tracking and analyzing security threats. The National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) is another critical initiative, serving as an integrated master database for counter-terrorism. It collects, connects, and analyzes information from multiple agencies, enhancing the country’s ability to prevent and respond to terrorist activities. Additionally, the Combat Financing Terrorism (CFT) framework focuses on curbing the financial networks that fund terrorism and countering the circulation of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN). It works in collaboration with both central and state-level agencies to share crucial financial intelligence. India is also a founding member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an inter-governmental body that sets global standards and recommendations to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. Collectively, these institutions and frameworks form a robust defense mechanism, reinforcing India’s fight against terrorism by disrupting its financial, operational, and logistical networks.
India’s Infiltration and Military Measures Towards Anti-Terrorism
Infiltration techniques and military operations are an important part of India’s counter-terrorism strategy in dealing with continual threats along its sensitive borders with Pakistan and other regions afflicted by internal insurgencies. The line of control (LoC) is the main frontier of cross-border terrorism perpetrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mahommed (JeM). Preventing infiltration across LoC has been the main focus point of India’s strategy to tackle terrorism. The strategy includes a multi-layered anti-infiltration grid, physical barriers, advanced surveillance systems, and effective troop deployments. The Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS), which was completed and deployed in 2023, is equipped with double-row strong and protective fencing, infrared sensors, and night vision cameras (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2024). The MHA Annual Report 2023-2024 indicates that the system reduced infiltrations from 222 in 2014 to 52 in 2023, a net 76% decline in successful infiltrations, it also improves the visibility in winters when maximum infiltration attempts are made, about 1200 kilometers of border fencing have been equipped with floodlights and thermal imaging and sensing since 2019 (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2024).
In the 2020 Keran sector operation, the Indian Army intercepted five infiltrators associated with LeT attempting to cross the LoC. Effectively using critical human intelligence and drone surveillance, soldiers engaged the infiltrators in a 10-hour-long firefight, finally neutralizing all five. The operation shows the effectiveness of real-time surveillance and also helps identify vulnerabilities. Between 2020 and 2023, troops found 20 cross-border tunnels, including a sophisticated 200-foot tunnel near Samba in January 2021, equipped with air vents and sandbags. These findings prompted the Border Security Force (BSF) to deploy ground-penetrating radar and seismic sensors, detecting three additional tunnels in 2024 (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2024).
Indian military operations are involved in the protection of international borders and also in launching counter-terrorist attacks. Operation All Out, which was launched in 2017, is a good example of the dual approach of targeting high-value terrorists and their networks in Jammu and Kashmir. By December 2023, the operation had eliminated 634 terrorists, including 150 top individuals, and had hit recruitment by 40% (The Hindu, 2023). A landmark case was the July 2016 killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in Kokernag, which, although it prompted unrest, split the group’s operational efficiency. The operation was conducted with cordon and search duties, and within the period of review, 4,000 missions were undertaken, which led to 2,500 arrests and 1,800 weapons recovered (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2024).
Some recent operations also continue this trend. After 44 civilians and soldiers were killed in a series of attacks in Jammu in the first month of 2024, security forces launched a massive search operation from January 28, 2025, in 24 locations, including Rajouri and Poonch. The Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Jammu and Kashmir Police contributed to neutralizing four terrorists in a three-day encounter beginning January 28, 2025, and recovering IEDs and Pakistan-made arms (The Hindu, 2025). There was another major operation in November 2024 in Kupwara when AI-based intelligence gave away the direction of an infiltration attempt, and three JeM operatives were eliminated within hours.
Technological Advancements
Technology has changed the way India fights against terrorism. Drones like Heron TP and the indigenous Rustom-2 are used by the army to improve LoC surveillance and have made more than 1,500 sorties in 2023 (Kumar & Vishwanathan, 2025). These drones have detected 85 percent of the infiltration attempts in real time, while the traditional methods detected 60 percent (Kumar & Vishwanathan, 2025). The use of terrorist drones increased in 2023, with 313 incidents and the delivery of 150 kg of explosives. The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) developed D-4, the anti-drone system used to jam the UAV signals in the June 2024 Uri encounter (Ministry of Home Affairs, 2024). AI, however, builds on these efforts. AI models trained on satellite imagery, ground sensors, and historical data have enhanced the prediction of infiltration by 32% since 2021 (Ministry of Defence, n.d). The November 2024 Kupwara operation was the first to demonstrate this capability, with AI helping pinpoint the way and time of the infiltration attempt (The Times Of India,2024). The S-400 air defense system has been deployed in India since 2023, and the Rafale jets have increased their capabilities to counter aerial threats and the latter downed a UAV near Amritsar in March 2024 (Kumar & Vishwanathan, 2025).
Internal Networks and External Strikes
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted 62 raids in 2024 and seized Rs. 2.8 crore terror funds from 85 overground workers (Financial Express, 2025). A significant example was the February 2024 seizure of a LeT network based in Srinagar, which had received Rs. 70 lakh from Pakistan through hawala and cryptocurrency since 2022 (The Indian Express,2022 ). In the hinterland, the operations in Pir Panjal reduced the frequency of terrorist incidents by 18% in 2024; however, threats persist, as evidenced by the attacks in Reasi, with 12 deaths in June 2024, and Doda, with five soldiers killed in July 2024 (The Hindu, 2025).
Although a lot of success has been achieved in countering terrorism and infiltrations, some problems still persist. The terrain of the LoC is also a challenge in surveillance, including high altitude, dense forests, and extreme weather conditions; 60% of infiltrations take place between November and February. Drone involvement increased by 42% from 2022 to 2023, and a total of 145 attempts were made in Punjab alone.
These issues are addressed by the MHA 2024 ‘zero infiltration’ campaign, aiming at the modernization of forces and choking terror financing. In a review meeting on February 11, 2025, Union Home Minister of India Amit Shah directed the BSF to use AI-enhanced drones and seismic sensors on the LoC by 2026, as he did on February 11, 2025 (The Times of India, 2025).
Conclusion
India’s fight against terrorism reflects a dynamic and evolving approach, blending legislative, administrative, military, and technological strategies. From the early days of TADA and POTA to the more nuanced Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and specialized agencies like NIA and NATGRID, the nation has steadily reinforced its counter-terrorism framework. While military operations, intelligence-driven infiltration prevention, and AI-based surveillance have yielded significant successes, persistent challenges—such as cross-border terrorism, technological threats like drone-based attacks, and terror financing—continue to test India’s resolve.
The country’s counter-terrorism efforts extend beyond its borders, with diplomatic collaborations through joint working groups and international conventions playing a crucial role. Ultimately, India’s approach underscores the importance of a comprehensive strategy—one that not only neutralizes immediate threats but also works towards dismantling the underlying networks and funding mechanisms supporting terrorism. Going forward, sustained vigilance, technological modernization, and global cooperation will be key in ensuring long-term security and peace.
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