It has been 16 years since India suffered one of its most heinous terror attacks on November 26, 2008. Mumbai was riddled with bullets as terrorists shot down 174 people, including 26 foreign nationals, at Nariman House, the Oberoi Trident, and the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower.
But India did not wilt under the attack. It rose from the ashes. And now, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi across his two terms and the ongoing third term, India has heralded a new, robust security infrastructure.
While it is not perfect, as showcased by attacks in Pulwama, or more recently Doda, terrorism has waned. The Modi government has armed itself with the best minds, including NSA Ajit Doval and the strong leadership of Amit Shah at the Home Ministry, and is ready to secure the nation and its citizens.
Early Counterterrorism Efforts: Laying The Foundation
The UPA government’s response to 26/11 was, to put it mildly, something of a shambles. They were caught with their pants down, reacting rather than anticipating. While they did set up the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and boosted coastal security, but it felt like plugging holes in a sinking ship rather than building an unbreachable fortress. There was no real sense of a cohesive strategy, and Pakistan got away with murder. This lack of a strong response emboldened them, leading to further, albeit smaller-scale attacks.
Narendra Modi’s coming to power in 2014 saw a shift in the country’s wider security infrastructure coupled with an aggressive posture, determined to weed out terror threats rather than to let them grow. India was no more ‘Mr Nice Guy’ and its neighbours felt the reverberations. The first term was focused on strengthening existing institutions and streamlining intelligence sharing.
The NIA got some real teeth, becoming a force to be reckoned with. There was a new emphasis on coordinating between different security agencies, something that was sorely lacking before. Everyone was finally on the same page, shooting at the same targets, surgically carving out the cancer, rather than a bunch of soloists going off-key. The creation of NATGRID, a national intelligence grid connecting databases of core security agencies, was a significant step towards this end. The government also recognised the need to address the root causes of terrorism, including radicalisation and the flow of funds to terror groups.
Amit Shah: Building On The Foundation
With Amit Shah taking the helm of the Home Ministry in 2019, India’s counterterrorism strategy went into overdrive. This was no longer about just reacting to attacks; it was about proactively dismantling terror networks. The revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir was a bold move, a surgical strike on the heart of terrorism in the region. The government also strengthened the UAPA, giving security forces greater powers to detain and prosecute terrorists. Some cried foul, but these were necessary steps to tackle a complex problem.
Shah also prioritised choking off terror funding. A 25-point integrated plan was devised to disrupt the flow of funds to terror groups, covering everything from hawala transactions to the use of cryptocurrency. The government also cracked down on NGOs suspected of funnelling funds to extremist organisations. This multi-pronged approach aimed to cripple the financial infrastructure that supports terrorism. Furthermore, Shah stressed the importance of using the UAPA and seeking NIA assistance in investigations, ensuring a more unified and forceful legal approach to terrorism.
Doval’s Doctrine: Hardening India’s Stance
Behind the scenes, Ajit Doval, India’s wily spymaster, has been quietly orchestrating much of India’s counterterrorism success. A seasoned intelligence operative with decades of experience, he understands the intricacies of the game like few others.
He advocates a doctrine of “offensive defence,” which essentially means taking the fight to the enemy rather than waiting for them to strike. The surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Uri attack in 2016 and the Balakot airstrikes after the Pulwama attack in 2019 are testaments to this approach.
Doval’s strategic thinking has not been limited to military action. He has also been instrumental in isolating Pakistan diplomatically, exposing its role as a state sponsor of terrorism on the global stage. This has had a significant impact on Pakistan’s international standing and has constrained its ability to support terror groups. He has also spearheaded the development of a closer security partnership with the US and other Western nations, enhancing intelligence sharing and cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. Doval’s strategic thinking has been crucial in hardening India’s approach to terrorism.
Successes And Challenges
The Modi government’s counterterrorism strategy has yielded significant results. There has been a marked decline in terrorist incidents across the country, particularly outside Kashmir. The Northeast, once a hotbed of insurgency, has seen a remarkable improvement in the security situation. The government also claims significant success in combating left-wing extremism in the Naxal belt.
According to the Global Terrorism Index 2020, 8,749 people have been killed in terror attacks in India since 2001. Between 2010 and 2020, the number of terrorist incidents, excluding Kashmir, declined by 70 per cent. According to the Modi government, the country has seen a sharp decrease in terrorist attacks in the last nine years alone, with 2,350 incidents resulting in the deaths of 377 civilians, as opposed to 7,327 incidents during the UPA era that killed 2,056 innocent civilians.
However, challenges remain. The recent attacks in Rajouri and Poonch districts near the Line of Control highlight the persistent threat of cross-border terrorism. The porous nature of the border and the use of sophisticated tactics by terrorists continue to pose a security risk. The situation in Kashmir remains complex, with occasional flare-ups of violence. While the abrogation of Article 370 has brought a semblance of normalcy, there are concerns about the potential for a resurgence in militancy.
The Naxal Belt
The Modi government’s counterterrorism efforts haven’t been limited to Pakistan alone. They’ve also made significant strides in combating left-wing extremism in the Naxal belt. Through a combination of targeted operations, development initiatives, and improved governance, they’ve managed to significantly reduce violence in these areas. This is a long and complex battle, but the progress made is undeniable. Data shows a dramatic decline in Naxal attacks and casualties in recent years.
Beyond these specific theatres, the government has focused on strengthening India’s overall security apparatus. They’ve invested heavily in modernising the armed forces, beefing up intelligence-gathering capabilities, and improving border security. They’ve also taken steps to tighten the screws on foreign funding to dubious NGOs, cutting off a potential source of support for terrorist activities. These measures, taken together, have made India a much harder target for terrorists.
The increased deterrence levels today are as much applicable to Pakistan as they are to Khalistanis, Naxals, or insurgents in the Northeast. The focus must now be on continuously adding to India’s counterterrorism abilities.
A Safer India?
While challenges remain, and no country can ever be completely immune to terrorism, India under PM Modi has made significant strides in securing its borders and protecting its citizens. The government’s hardline approach, combined with strategic thinking and improved intelligence capabilities, has sent a clear message to terrorists: India is no longer a soft target.
The road ahead is still long, but the progress made so far is a testament to the government’s commitment to safeguarding the nation.
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