PRAHAAR: India’s National Counter Terror Strategy
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) unveiled PRAHAAR, India’s first publicly articulated national counter-terror strategy aiming to showcase the country's approach to terrorism, steps taken over the years, and future plans.
Key Features of PRAHAAR
- Threat Landscape:
- Includes cross-border violence, global jihadist networks such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
- Considers technological advances like drones, encrypted communications, and crypto-financing.
- Addresses cyber threats and risks related to CBRNED materials.
- Seven-Pillar Response:
- Intelligence-led prevention and real-time inter-agency coordination.
- Swift, proportionate responses by local police with support from specialized counter-terror forces.
- Police modernization and standardized training to enhance capacity.
- Adherence to human rights and the rule of law.
- De-radicalization and community engagement, focusing on youth and women.
- International cooperation for intelligence sharing and legal assistance.
- Community-based recovery and resilience with a zero-tolerance political stance towards terrorism.
New Aspects of PRAHAAR
- Consolidates existing tools and agencies such as MAC, NSG, NIA, UAPA into a single policy document.
- Emphasizes human rights, rule of law, and socio-economic ties in counter-terrorism efforts.
- Diplomatically significant by not associating terrorism with any religion or identity.
Comparison with Western Strategies
- US Strategy:
- US National Strategy for Counterterrorism (USNSCT) emphasizes using all US power instruments.
- Focus on diminishing terrorist capacity, severing support, and countering radicalization.
- UK Strategy:
- CONTEST 2023 organizes work into Prevent, Pursue, Protect, and Prepare strands.
- Uses a whole-of-government and society partnership approach.
Both Western strategies provide detailed plans with actionable items and public reporting structures, which PRAHAAR lacks.
Implementation Challenges and the Way Forward
- Grassroots percolation and implementation are crucial for PRAHAAR’s success.
- State-wise guidelines needed for translating the strategy into actionable tasks.
- Capacity-building for state ATS units and district police required.
- Monitoring mechanisms to ensure societal and socio-economic elements integration.
- Need for a national framework for de-radicalization efforts.
PRAHAAR's strengths lie in its formal rejection of religious profiling, emphasis on human rights, and integration of security and development. However, its lack of operational detail and oversight metrics poses challenges for effective implementation.
