During the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit on November 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined a significant shift in India’s counter-terrorism strategy. He emphasized that, since 2014, India has adopted a proactive stance against countries that support terrorism, notably Pakistan. This marks a departure from the previous approach where India sought global support after terrorist attacks on its soil.
Under this new doctrine, India is willing to retaliate against terrorist groups responsible for attacks, whether within or outside its borders. Notable examples of this approach include the surgical strikes in 2016 and the Balakot strike in 2019, conducted by the Indian armed forces. These retaliatory actions were meticulously planned, involving all three branches of the armed services, and were prepared for both vertical and horizontal escalations across the borders.
One aspect less known is that Indian Scorpene hunter-killer submarines patrolled off the Makran coastline before the Balakot strike to counter potential threats from the Pakistan Navy at bases in Karachi, Gwadar, or Pasni.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that India’s decisive response in 2019, following the Pulwama attack, made Pakistan-based terrorist groups think twice before targeting Indian territory. The combination of strong political leadership, effective security forces, and intelligence efforts has contributed to a significant reduction in major terror incidents within India. This shift in strategy has also dispelled the notion of a nuclear flashpoint, previously advocated by some experts.
In contrast, the previous UPA government’s response to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks was seen as restrained, which resulted in subsequent terrorist attacks in Pune (2010) and Mumbai (2011). This article suggests that the UPA government’s approach may have emboldened Pakistan-based terrorist groups.
Despite Pakistan’s ongoing economic and political challenges, these terrorist organizations continue to operate under various aliases, with a focus on causing havoc in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India. However, their leaders have been compelled to seek refuge in secure locations provided by the Pakistani deep state due to fears of Indian military and covert operations. This reflects the positive impact of PM Modi’s counter-terrorism doctrine.