2025, Vol. 7, Issue 10, Part B

India’s counter-terrorism trajectory has been shaped by its strategic location, complex socio-political environment, and decades of exposure to diverse forms of violence, including cross-border terrorism, insurgencies, and radicalization. High-profile incidents such as the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing exposed systemic vulnerabilities and compelled reforms in legislation, intelligence coordination, and institutional frameworks. More recently, the 2023 Rajouri and 2025 Pahalgam attacks underscore the evolving nature of terrorist threats. In response, India has developed a multidimensional strategy that integrates hard power through specialized forces, intelligence modernization, and robust legal frameworks with soft approaches such as community engagement, de-radicalization, and socioeconomic inclusion. At the international level, India actively contributes to global counter-terrorism initiatives through the United Nations, FATF, and bilateral partnerships. Despite these advances, persistent challenges remain, including inter-agency coordination gaps, exploitation of digital technologies by terrorist groups, and the volatility of regional geopolitics. This study argues that India’s counter-terrorism framework demonstrates resilience and adaptability by blending global best practices with indigenous solutions. The analysis highlights that India’s experience offers lessons not only for national security but also for shaping international counter-terrorism cooperation in the 21st century.