[Link].
com PANACEA BHARTI INSTITUTE M: 9888 405 906
Internal Security- Terrorism
Section 113 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 defines terrorism as an act intended
to threaten India's unity, integrity, security, or economic security, or to strike terror in the
public, by using explosives, weapons, hazardous substances, or other means to cause death,
injury, property damage, disrupt essential services, or affect monetary stability, including
counterfeiting.
Types of Terrorism
Ethnic terrorism
Ethnic terrorism can be defined as deliberate violence by a subnational ethnic group to
advance its cause. Such violence usually focuses either on the creation of a separate State or
on the elevation of the status of one ethnic group over others. Tamil Nationalist groups in Sri
Lanka and insurgent groups in North East India are examples of ethno-nationalist terrorist
activities.
Ideology Oriented Terrorism
Any ideology can be used to support the use of violence and terrorism. Ideology oriented
terrorism is generally classified into two: Left-wing and Right-wing terrorism.
a) Left-wing Terrorism- Violence against the ruling elite mostly by the peasant class
motivated by what are called leftist ideologies have occurred time and again in history.
b) Right-wing Terrorism- Right-wing groups generally seek to maintain the status-quo or to
return to some past situation that they feel should have been conserved. Sometimes, groups
espousing rightist ideologies might assume ethnic/racist character too.
State-sponsored Terrorism
State-sponsored terrorism refers to deliberate support – financial, logistical, ideological, or
military – extended by a nation-state to non-state actors for executing violent acts, often
across borders, to achieve specific foreign policy or domestic goals.
Narco-terrorism
Narco-terrorism refers to the attempts of narcotics traffickers to influence the policies of a
government or a society through violence and intimidation, and to hinder the enforcement of
anti-drug laws by the systematic threat or use of such violence.
In short, Narco terrorism implies the nexus between drug syndicates and terrorists that
facilitate and fund terrorist activities and influence government policies.
[Link] PANACEA BHARTI INSTITUTE M: 9888 405 906
Terrorism and India
1. 1993 Bombay Bombings: 13 bomb blasts in Mumbai, killing 257 and injuring over 700.
Linked to Dawood Ibrahim’s D-Company and Pakistan-based groups.
2. Parliament Attack (2001): Militants attacked India’s Parliament, killing 9 and injuring
18. Perpetrated by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.
3. Mumbai 26/11 (2008): Coordinated attacks on hotels, restaurants, and a train station,
killing 164 and injuring 300+ by Lashkar-e-Tayyaba.
4. Delhi Bombings (2008): Bomb blasts across Delhi killed 30 and injured over 100,
orchestrated by the Indian Mujahideen.
5. Uri Attack (2016): Attack on an army base in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 18 soldiers,
claimed by Jaish-e-Mohammed.
6. Pulwama Attack (2019): A suicide bombing killed 40 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and
Kashmir, attributed to Jaish-e-Mohammed.
7. Pahalgam Terrorist Attack 2025
Global Terrorism Index 2025
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 has been released by the Institute for Economics and
Peace (IEP).
Burkina Faso ranks first in the index based on the impact of terrorism.
Pakistan ranks second in this index.
India ranks 14th.
Challenges in Combating Terrorism in India
Persistent Cross-Border Threats: Despite LoC ceasefire
agreements, infiltration and proxy wars by Pakistan-backed groups like LeT and JeM
continue unabated.
Digital Radicalisation and Lone-Wolf Threats: Encryption, anonymity, and virality of
social media make online radicalisation and lone-wolf attacks harder to detect and
prevent.
Advanced Technology Use by Terrorists: Terror outfits exploit encrypted
apps, drones for smuggling/explosives, and AI-generated deepfake propaganda to mislead
security agencies.
Fragmented Internal Security Coordination: Ineffective intelligence sharing among
the Centre, State, and local forces during the Kashmir terror incidents in 2023 undermines
response capability.
[Link] PANACEA BHARTI INSTITUTE M: 9888 405 906
Vulnerable Borders and Smuggling Networks: Under-policed and porous
borders (Punjab, J&K, Northeast) remain major corridors for arms, narcotics, and
explosive smuggling.
Judicial Bottlenecks and Delays: Terror prosecutions suffer due to lengthy trials, low
conviction rates, and procedural loopholes, reducing deterrence.
Financial System Vulnerabilities: Illicit networks using hawala, cryptocurrency, and
fake charities create invisible channels for terror financing, evading traditional banking
oversight.
India's Counterterrorism Doctrine
India’s New Counterterrorism Doctrine: India’s Counterterrorism Doctrine unveiled
after Operation Sindoor marks a decisive shift from earlier restraint to a more assertive
and punitive security posture.
o It is built on three principles: decisive retaliation, zero tolerance for nuclear
blackmail, and no distinction between terrorists and their state sponsors.
o Decisive Retaliation: It means India will hit back firmly and on its own
terms after any terror attack, targeting terror hubs at the source to raise the costs
for states backing such groups.
This approach, seen in strikes on major Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-
Mohammed bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and
Kashmir (PoJK).
o Zero Tolerance for Nuclear Blackmail: India will not be deterred by nuclear
threats and will strike terrorist safe havens even if they hide under a nuclear shield,
asserting its right to self-defence and moving away from earlier strategic restraint.
o No Distinction Between Terrorists & their Sponsors: India now treats both
terror groups and the states sheltering or supporting them as the same target.
Operation Sindoor reflected this shift by striking deep inside Pakistan,
signalling that state-backed terrorism will be met as a direct act of war.
Key Initiatives for Combating Terrorism in India
1. Legal and Investigative Strengthening: Amendments to UAPA (2019) and NIA
Act empowering agencies to designate individuals as terrorists and investigate terror
cases even abroad.
2. Specialised Counter-Terror Mechanism: Establishment of NIA, NATGRID, Multi-
Agency Centre (MAC), and strengthening of elite forces like NSG and Rashtriya Rifles
for special operations.
3. Border and Maritime Security: Deploying a Comprehensive Integrated Border
Management System (CIBMS) with sensors & drones along borders and the Sagarmala-
Coastal Security initiatives to guard maritime frontiers.
[Link] PANACEA BHARTI INSTITUTE M: 9888 405 906
4. Cybersecurity Framework: The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) will
be launched, and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (CERT-In) and
the National Critical Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) will be bolstered to
shield critical cyber infrastructure.
5. Community-Based Counter-Radicalisation: Initiatives like Operation Sadbhavna and
the revival of Village Defence Guards (VDGs) to engage and secure vulnerable
populations.
6. National Security Guard (NSG):
National Security Guard was raised in 1984, following Operation Blue Star and the
assassination of Indira Gandhi, “for combating terrorist activities with a view to protect
States against internal disturbances”. The primary role of this Force is to combat terrorism
in whatever form it may assume in areas where activity of terrorists assumes serious
proportions, and the State Police and other Central Police Forces cannot cope up with the
situation.
Money laundering and terrorism financing are often linked. When law enforcement is
able to detect and prevent money laundering activities, it may also be preventing those
funds from being used to finance acts of terror.
7. Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
• Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) policies largely originate and are
modeled upon the report Forty Recommendations, which was published by the
Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
• FATF works to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism through
creating standardized processes to stop threats to the international financial system. It
seeks to increase acceptance of anti-money laundering regulations across the globe.
Eg: Pakistan is on greylist for two years.
• Following the FATF, world organizations, international financial institutions, and
many national governments have pursued CFT initiatives and policies.
• The FATF also collects and shares information about trends in money laundering and
terrorism financing and works closely with the International Monetary Fund (IMF),
the World Bank, and the United Nations.
Measures to Strengthen Counter Terrorism in India
Integrated Intelligence Grid: Real-time threat fusion among NIA, IB, RAW, and state
forces; upgrade the Multi-Agency Collaboration (MAC) to a National Terrorism Monitoring
Dashboard.
AI-Driven Surveillance: Implement facial recognition and predictive policing algorithms in
public spaces, airports, and border areas.
Smart Borders: Expand the application of laser fencing, seismic sensors, and thermal
imaging drones along the Indo-Pak and Indo-Myanmar borders.
Cyber-Specific Counter-Terror Laws: Amend the UAPA to criminalise cyber-
radicalisation and penalise social media platforms that fail to comply with requests.
Localised De-Radicalisation Programs: Tailored education, job creation, sports and
cultural integration projects in Kashmir, Northeast, LWE-affected areas.
Financial Disruption of Terror Networks: Stronger mechanisms aligned with FATF to
freeze accounts and monitor hawala/crypto.
[Link] PANACEA BHARTI INSTITUTE M: 9888 405 906
Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborate with technology firms (Meta, Google, private
cybersecurity firms) to monitor online terrorist activities.
Strategic Diplomacy: Advocate for Pakistan’s blacklisting at FATF, and utilise
platforms like G20 and SCO to identify and denounce terror sponsors.
White Collar Terrorism
In White-collar terrorism, professionalsand educated individuals like doctors, engineers,
etc., weaponize their professional legitimacy, academic networks and access to financial and
institutional resources for violent ends.
Key Reasons
Moral Absolutism: It is the ethical view that certain actions are inherently right or wrong,
universally and unconditionally irrespective of the circumstances and consequences.
Relative Deprivation Theory: In this, extremism is driven by a perceived sense that
a group needs to assert itself, not just by extreme poverty.
Social Identity Theory: Grievances can be channelled into a search for an all-
encompassing identity. E.g., Professional designation might be subordinated to
an extremist 'higher-purpose' identity.
Rise of Digital Technology: Digital Insulated Platforms require technical skills,
where professionals act as a strategic asset.
Challenges Associated with White-Collar Terrorism
Profiling Limits: White-collar operatives are “clean skins” with professional
credibility and strong social integration, which makes them invisible to traditional profiling
systems.
Financial Blindspots: Self-funded operations utilise personal income, reducing the ability of
financial intelligence tools to flag suspicious transfers.
Urban Anonymity: Metropolitan life offers natural anonymity that supports discreet
movements and secondary residences without the scrutiny common in smaller
communities.
Digital Radicalisation: Encrypted platforms let professionals self-radicalise in
isolation through social media, closed chat groups, and extremist online forums.
Measures need to be adopted
AI Analytics: Use AI-based analysis to identify subtle behavioural anomalies that
conventional identity-focused profiling systems usually overlook.
KYE Protocols: Require sensitive institutions to implement strict Know-Your-Employee
checks to track access patterns and recognise unusual behavioural shifts.
Dual-Use Tracking: Establish a national system that monitors chemical and electronic
precursor purchases in real-time to flag clustered procurement.
Some policy like UK’s Prevent Strategy.