In recent years, India’s approach towards countering terrorism has dramatically shifted. This development is especially written step-in to the current India underneath the management of High Minister Narendra Modi. After 2014, the federal government completely reversed its position. It instead now emphasizes going on the offensive against cross-border terrorism, especially from groups operating out of Pakistan. This approach, in their view, is the primary reason for the large decrease in terrorism-related deaths. By 2024, deaths had further declined to a total of only 127, an outstanding improvement from the scary peaks of above 4,000 in 2001.
India’s approach to cross-border counter-terrorism, a radical departure from its past posture, emerged after 19 Indian soldiers were killed in a terror attack in Uri, Jammu on 18 September 2016. That’s when a terrorist attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 19 Indian soldiers in Uri at an army brigade headquarters. The Mumbai attack forced India to reexamine its policies and strike tough blows against terrorist camps located in Pakistan.
And in just the last few years, data shows there’s been a sharp drop in deaths, with fatalities now regularly coming in at 100-200 per year. Still, a big test remains for the Indian government as it continues to face flare-ups of violence. The most recent terror attack – on June 23 in Pahalgam – killed 27 civilians, including one Nepali national.
A Shift in Strategy
India’s earlier policy of strategic restraint consisted of a prescriptive unwillingness to retaliate for terror strikes. Following the 2016 Uri attack, the Modi government acted decisively. They launched surgical strikes on JeM’s training camps to echo their powerful and radical position. Indian officials claimed these strikes killed a “very large” number of terrorists and trainers.
“The reason for that is the change in the international environment after 9/11,” – Dr Ajai Sahni, Executive Director of the South Asia Terrorism Portal.
In palabras suyas, the government’s new approach focused on a strategy that included military action, but just as importantly legal actions. Dr. Sahni points out that one of the positive shifts has been the prosecution of individuals associated with terrorism, extending beyond direct acts to include funding and facilitating terrorist activities.
“One positive policy was that [the government] started prosecuting people associated with terrorism. There was prosecution for funding terrorism, for associating with terrorists, for facilitating terrorists, not just the primary acts of terrorism,” – Dr Ajai Sahni.
This whole-of-network approach seeks to eliminate the entire support structure for terrorism, not simply focusing on symptom relief.
Recent Developments
Even though our overall fatalities have declined, the shadow of terrorism has not lifted altogether. In the most recent incident in April 2023, four terrorists murdered Hindu tourists in Pahalgam. This brutal attack was responsible for the death of 26 Indian soldiers and one Nepalese. However, these incidents do not just expose failures in India’s security paradigm. They further focus on the precariousness of the geopolitical context in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to reports from the New Delhi-based South Asia Terrorism Portal, this region remains a focal point for terrorist activities, presenting a complicated picture of violence and security challenges. The Indian government is deeply and unequivocally committed to the fight against terrorism. In parallel, it deftly balances the complicated and fraught geopolitical realities of its neighbor Pakistan.
Beyond military action, the Indian leadership has felt the need to show a united front, throwing their support behind India’s tougher new line on counter-terrorism. Prime Minister Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar have appeared together at various events, reinforcing their commitment to combatting cross-border terrorism and ensuring national security.
The Impact of International Relations
India’s approach to combating terrorism has been greatly shaped by the international environment during times of events like September 11. The newfound global focus on counter-terrorism has raised India’s profile. This support is instrumental in allowing India to rally the most powerful nations in the world against groups such as JeM.
India insists that there have been no civilian deaths in its cross-border raids, which Pakistan says killed 31 civilians. Countering these charges every time are India’s near-constant and complete denials. The competing narratives highlight the difficulty of addressing terrorism while balancing the needs of international public relations and diplomacy.
Adding further uncertainty is the low-burning but always smoldering tension between India and Pakistan. As both nations navigate their contentious relationship, India continues to focus on dismantling terror infrastructures along its borders while advocating for international assistance in addressing these threats.
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