The Ministry of Home Affairs has launched PRAHAAR, a comprehensive counter-terrorism policy and strategy framework, to guide India’s response to terrorism over the next ten years. Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the conference outlining this approach, which integrates efforts across central agencies, state police forces and international partners in a coordinated, whole-of-society model.
Key facts
- PRAHAAR framework built on seven pillars: Prevention, Response, Aggregating Internal Capacities, Human Rights, Attenuating Conditions for Terrorism, Aligning International Efforts, and Recovery and Resilience
- New Extradition Portal launched to expedite return of fugitives from abroad
- From 2019 to 2026, India brought back 288 fugitive criminals from 36 countries
- Shahzad Bhatti network: more than 40 modules busted, over 100 FIRs registered, 350 individuals arrested across 15 states
- Shahzad Bhatti network declared a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)
- Conference attended by Union Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary, heads of Central Armed Police Forces, police chiefs of 15 states and Anti-Terrorism Squad chiefs from all states and union territories
The PRAHAAR framework explained
PRAHAAR represents India’s structured approach to counter-terrorism, moving beyond reactive measures to prevention-focused strategies. The framework’s seven pillars address different aspects of the threat: preventing attacks before they occur, responding swiftly when incidents happen, building internal security capacities, protecting human rights during counter-terrorism operations, removing conditions that terrorists exploit for recruitment, coordinating international action, and helping communities recover and build resilience.
The Home Minister emphasised that this strategy requires implementation at every level, from national agencies down to police stations in cities and villages. This means local police must adopt the same counter-terrorism procedures and mindset as specialised central agencies, ensuring consistent standards across India.
New Extradition Portal and fugitive returns
A new Extradition Portal was launched to streamline the process of bringing back fugitives who have fled to foreign countries. Between 2019 and 2026, India successfully extradited 288 criminals from 36 countries, showing the scale of cross-border criminal and terrorist networks India confronts.
The portal aims to reduce delays in extradition proceedings by centralising information and coordination among Indian embassies, investigating agencies and law enforcement bodies. State police forces have been asked to create dedicated teams to work with central agencies in these extradition efforts.
Shahzad Bhatti network case study
The Shahzad Bhatti smuggling network demonstrates the kind of organised threat the PRAHAAR framework targets. This network was involved in cross-border trafficking of weapons, explosives and narcotics. Through improved coordination among law enforcement agencies, police identified and dismantled over 40 modules of this network across 15 states, leading to over 100 criminal cases being registered and 350 arrests. In recognition of its links to terrorism, the government designated the entire network as a terrorist organisation under the UAPA, subjecting members to stricter legal penalties.
Implementation and coordination requirements
For PRAHAAR to work effectively, the Home Minister stressed the need for automated counter-terrorism response systems at all government levels. This means establishing standard operating procedures, rapid response teams, and information-sharing mechanisms so that decisions are not delayed by bureaucratic processes.
Better coordination among all stakeholders—central agencies, state police, anti-terrorism squads, intelligence agencies and international partners—is essential. Delays in communication or action can undermine counter-terrorism efforts. The framework requires state police to align their procedures with central agencies rather than operating independently.
What this means for you
For ordinary citizens, PRAHAAR means a more coordinated national security apparatus focused on preventing attacks rather than only responding after they occur. Police at the local level will follow standardised counter-terrorism protocols. The new Extradition Portal may result in faster resolution of cases where Indians are harmed by fugitives hiding abroad.
For security professionals and law enforcement, the framework requires adopting new procedures and participating in automated systems that track and respond to terrorism threats. State police forces will need to establish dedicated units for extradition cases and cross-border criminal tracking.
What happens next
The government intends to strengthen and refine PRAHAAR through continuous analysis of terror incidents over the next ten years. State governments have been directed to establish dedicated teams for working with central agencies. Implementation is expected to begin at the police station level, making counter-terrorism a standard part of local law enforcement operations.