Neutralize and Prevail: Building a Global Anti-Terror Framework

The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, executed by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives Asif Fauji (alias Moosa), Suleman Shah (alias Yunus), and Abu Talha (alias Asif), with logistical assistance from local collaborators Adil Guree from Anantnag and Aasif Shaikh from Sopore, serves as a stark reminder that terrorism in the 21st century is no longer an isolated phenomenon.

- PROF. NISHAKANT OJHA

The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, executed by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives Asif Fauji (alias Moosa), Suleman Shah (alias Yunus), and Abu Talha (alias Asif), with logistical assistance from local collaborators Adil Guree from Anantnag and Aasif Shaikh from Sopore, serves as a stark reminder that terrorism in the 21st century is no longer an isolated phenomenon. It is transnational, technologically sophisticated, and often state-supported. Such incidents demand that India—and other nations battling the scourge of cross-border terrorism—urgently rethink and restructure their counterterrorism strategies.

Neutralizing this evolving threat landscape requires an integrated approach that combines domestic resilience, international strategic partnerships, high-technology utilization, financial warfare, and psychological operations.

A crucial first step is the immediate creation of a layered domestic security architecture. India must operationalize a fully empowered National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC 2.0) that integrates the intelligence capabilities of RAW, IB, NTRO, NIA, military intelligence, and state police forces into a unified strategic command. The traditional fragmentation of intelligence and operational responsibilities has proven ineffective against networked and agile terrorist groups. Intelligence fusion must become seamless and real-time, with quick reaction forces placed on permanent standby, driven by predictive analysis rather than reactive deployment.

Countries facing similar insurgent threats—such as Egypt in the Sinai, Kenya in the Lamu region, and Nigeria in the Sahel—must similarly prioritize building integrated national counter-terrorism hubs.