Building an Impenetrable National Security Shield: Amit Shah Pushes for a Uniform Anti-Terror Framework Across India
New Delhi. Underscoring the evolving nature of threats to India’s internal security, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called for the creation of a uniform Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) framework across all states, describing it as critical to strengthening the country’s counter-terrorism architecture.
Addressing senior police leadership, he stressed that national security can no longer be addressed through fragmented or uneven systems, and urged state Directors General of Police to ensure swift implementation of the common ATS structure.
Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day National Anti-Terrorism Conference organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in New Delhi, the Home Minister laid out a comprehensive national security vision that places coordination, technology, and intelligence-sharing at its core.
He made it clear that India’s preparedness against terrorism and organised crime must be proactive, standardised, and future-oriented.
Uniform ATS Structure: Ensuring Equal Preparedness Nationwide
Shah pointed out that disparities in training, operational readiness, and access to intelligence across states weaken the overall national response to terrorism.
A common ATS structure, prepared by the NIA and circulated to state police chiefs, will ensure uniformity in capabilities, protocols, and response mechanisms.
Such standardisation, he said, will enable all states to operate at the same level of preparedness, creating a seamless and integrated counter-terrorism ecosystem.
He further emphasised that state ATS units must become habitual users of national intelligence platforms such as NetGrid, so that critical data is shared and acted upon in real time rather than remaining siloed within individual agencies.
Accurate Threat Assessment Through Institutional Coordination
From a national security standpoint, the Home Minister highlighted the importance of accurate and timely threat assessment.
He stressed active participation by all states in the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) and the National Memory Bank, warning that without operational uniformity and institutional coordination, intelligence-sharing cannot be optimally utilised.
“This conference is not merely a discussion forum,” Shah noted. “It is a working platform where actionable insights emerge, and where agencies commit to implementing them throughout the year.”
He added that this sustained follow-through is what is gradually shaping a strong and resilient national counter-terrorism grid.
Adapting to the Changing Face of Terrorism
Acknowledging that the nature of terrorism is rapidly changing due to increased use of technology, encrypted communications, transnational funding channels, and complex organised crime linkages, the Home Minister said India must recalibrate its security responses accordingly.
He urged all agencies to study terrorist incidents across the country and globally, draw lessons from them, and continuously upgrade India’s counter-terror capabilities.
The objective, he said, is to build a security framework capable not only of responding to visible threats, but also of anticipating and neutralising invisible and emerging challenges before they materialise.
Three Strategic Initiatives to Strengthen Internal Security
As part of this broader push, Shah highlighted three major national initiatives launched by the NIA, describing them as long-term assets for India’s internal security:
- An updated Crime Manual by the NIA, designed to align investigations with contemporary terror and organised crime methodologies.
- A comprehensive Arms e-Database, enabling centralised tracking and analysis of weapons-related information.
- A dedicated Organised Crime Network Database, aimed at mapping, analysing, and dismantling interconnected criminal and terror networks.
“These three initiatives,” the Home Minister said, “will significantly enhance India’s ability to combat terrorism, organised crime, and radicalisation in a systematic and intelligence-driven manner.”
Security Beyond Borders
Reinforcing a strategic shift in thinking, Shah observed that internal security preparedness does not begin at India’s borders. Instead, effective defence against terrorism requires identifying and neutralising threats well before they reach the country’s frontiers.
He described the NIA-led conference as an evolving national platform to address emerging threats with foresight, coordination, and collective resolve.
In conclusion, the Home Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to building an impenetrable, adaptive, and future-ready counter-terrorism grid, ensuring that India remains secure not just for today, but for generations to come.
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