India will implement a national counter-terrorism policy soon

The national counter-terrorism policy is expected to address a wide range of goals, with a focus on both preventive and responsive measures.

In a major development aimed at fortifying national security, India is preparing to implement a comprehensive national counter-terrorism policy. This policy is set to redefine how the nation addresses, mitigates, and combats terrorism on its soil and beyond, reinforcing India's commitment to safeguarding its citizens and interests against evolving terror threats.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing the anti-terror conference, elaborated on the details on how the Centre is planning to introduce a new counter terrorism policy. The new strategy will fight national security threats, terrorists and their ecosystem. He also shared that the Centre has come up with a vision on a model anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and model special task force (STF) for all states and Union territories, which will work as a common platform to deal with the menace of terrorism, the home minister said.

Amit Shah said that while law and order is a state subject and states have the geographical boundaries and constitutional limitations, terrorism doesn't and hence all security agencies - central and states - must work in close coordination, chalk out joint strategies and share intelligence.

This is a transformative step towards addressing one of the country’s most pressing security concerns. By adopting a comprehensive, multi-layered approach, India is setting a new benchmark in counter-terrorism that could serve as a model for other nations facing similar challenges.

The home minister added that the new policy will help states and central agencies to work in close coordination to deal with terrorism. The standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the ATS and STF model are being shared with the state governments so that they can make the necessary tweaks in their existing models. "This (adopting model ATS and STF) doesn't reduce the rights of states," Shah assured.

With effective implementation, this initiative has the potential to make India a global leader in the fight against terrorism, fostering a safer environment for its people and contributing to the global efforts in counter-terrorism.