To further tighten grip on Kashmir, Delhi unveils PRAHAAR ‘anti-terror’ policy
New Delhi: Despite already enforcing sweeping laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Public Safety Act , India has now unveiled its first national anti-terror policy titled PRAHAAR, raising concerns that the move will further constrict the internationally recognized right to self-determination movement in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and other regions experiencing political unrest.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Indian Ministry of Home Affairs has uploaded the policy document on its official website, outlining what it describes as a comprehensive counter-terror strategy to address threats across land, air, sea and cyberspace. The policy claims that “criminal hackers and nation states” continue to target India through cyber-attacks and asserts that “pro-freedom groups are increasingly using drones and advanced technologies, particularly occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
Political analysts and human rights observers warn that such broad and sweeping definitions will be used to criminalize legitimate political dissent, particularly in Kashmir, where the demand for the UN-recognized right to self-determination has long been portrayed by New Delhi as terrorism.
They point out that in the presence of draconian laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Public Safety Act (PSA) have already been routinely invoked to detain political leaders, activists, journalists and youth in Kashmir. With the introduction of PRAHAAR, critics fear an institutionalized framework that could further conflate indigenous resistance movements with global terrorism narratives.
Observers maintain that the policy’s emphasis on pre-emptive action, cyber surveillance and coordinated intelligence sharing may result in expanded monitoring of civil society, social media activity and political mobilization in conflict regions. In Kashmir, which remains one of the most militarized zones in the world, such measures are likely to deepen restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and association.
They also warn that besides occupied Jammu and Kashmir the policy could set a precedent for intensified crackdowns also inside Indian states where distinct political or ethnic movements are active, including the Northeast and areas affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE). By framing dissent and armed resistance within a singular anti-terror doctrine, New Delhi risks shrinking democratic space and undermining avenues for political dialogue.
Analysts argue that instead of addressing the political roots of longstanding disputes, particularly the Kashmir issue, the new policy signals a military-centric approach that prioritizes force and surveillance over reconciliation and dialogue. They caution that suppressing political aspirations under the umbrella of counter-terrorism could further alienate populations and intensify cycles of unrest rather than resolve them.
