New Delhi: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has underscored the urgent need for heightened vigilance against a range of security threats facing the country, particularly those arising from radicalisation, recruitment, and the exploitation of vulnerable youths to carry out violent acts. His remarks came at the conclusion of the two-day Anti-Terrorism Conference–2025, held in New Delhi and organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Speaking on December 27, Mohan said India’s security landscape is evolving rapidly, with traditional threats now intersecting with complex digital and hybrid challenges. “There is a need to be more vigilant about various threats facing the country, especially those linked to radicalisation and the exploitation of vulnerable youths for violent activities,” he said, according to an official statement released by the NIA on Sunday.

The Anti-Terrorism Conference–2025 focused on strengthening India’s counter-terrorism framework through enhanced coordination, better intelligence-sharing, and the adoption of a uniform Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) structure across states. A key objective of the conference was to promote seamless, real-time exchange of information between central and state agencies to enable quicker and more effective responses to terror-related threats.

One of the notable features of this year’s conference was the introduction of a “Track 2” discussion platform. Mohan highlighted the importance of this initiative, saying it addressed several critical and emerging issues, particularly in the digital domain. “The newly initiated Track 2 in the Anti-Terror Conference has discussed very important issues like digital device data and big data analytics, but most importantly, unmasking digital anonymity,” he said.

He stressed that anonymity in the digital space has increasingly been exploited by extremist elements to radicalise individuals, recruit operatives, finance terror activities, and plan attacks without detection. Breaking through this anonymity, he noted, is essential for modern counter-terrorism efforts, which must now rely as much on technological expertise as on traditional policing.

The home secretary also lauded the National Investigation Agency for achieving a conviction rate of nearly 90 per cent in terror-related cases, describing it as a benchmark for law enforcement agencies across the country. He said the Centre’s objective is to replicate this level of success across all police forces by improving investigation standards, evidence collection, and prosecution strategies.

“Our aim is to scale this conviction rate across all police forces in the country,” Mohan said, adding that strong legal outcomes not only punish perpetrators but also act as a deterrent against future acts of terror.

According to the NIA statement, the conference placed strong emphasis on learning from past investigations and operations. Detailed discussions were held on pre-emptive disruption of terror modules, intelligence-led policing, and lessons drawn from operations in different theatres such as left-wing extremism-affected regions, the North East, and areas facing hybrid threats to national security.

Delegates also examined new and emerging security challenges, including the misuse of deepfake technology, cyber-enabled radicalisation, and hybrid warfare tactics that combine conventional, irregular, and cyber methods. The conference highlighted the growing importance of digital forensics and advanced data analysis in counter-terrorism investigations, as terrorists increasingly use encrypted communication platforms, social media, and online financial channels.

“Other significant discussions were focused on countering the financing of terrorism, maritime terrorism and illicit trafficking, as well as the evolving jurisprudence related to counter-terrorism,” the NIA statement said. These areas were identified as critical vulnerabilities that require coordinated action across agencies and jurisdictions.

The conference was inaugurated on Friday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who called on states to urgently implement a uniform ATS structure to strengthen India’s counter-terrorism capabilities. Shah emphasised that without robust, consistent, and standardised operational capacity across the country, intelligence inputs cannot be effectively utilised.

“Without the availability of a robust, uniform and consistent operational capacity across the country, we cannot ensure proper use of intelligence and effective coordinated counter-actions,” Shah said during his address.

The home minister praised the operational and investigative success of central agencies and state police forces in handling two recent high-profile terror cases—the Pahalgam attack and the Red Fort blast in Delhi. Referring to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Shah said it marked the first instance in which not only the perpetrators but also the planners of the attack were punished.

“This is the first terrorist incident in which we punished the people who planned the act of terrorism through Operation Sindoor, and the terrorists who carried out the attack were neutralised through Operation Mahadev,” Shah said. He described the twin operations as a strong and decisive response by the Government of India, the country’s security forces, and the people of India to terrorist masterminds operating from Pakistan.

Shah also stressed the need for central and state agencies to remain alert to the international dimensions of modern terrorism. These include cyber warfare, hybrid warfare, multi-layered security threats, and the free flow of intelligence across borders and institutions. He said India’s counter-terrorism strategy must continuously adapt to these evolving challenges.

On the inaugural day of the conference, the home minister paid tribute to more than 36,000 personnel from central armed police forces and state police who have laid down their lives in the line of duty. He acknowledged their sacrifices as the backbone of the nation’s internal security apparatus.

The conference brought together senior leadership from across India’s security establishment. Heads of state police forces, central police organisations, and central armed police forces were present, along with more than 150 delegates from various states, Union territories, and central agencies. The two-day deliberations aimed to foster deeper cooperation, share best practices, and build a common understanding of emerging threats.

Officials said the Anti-Terrorism Conference–2025 reinforced the need for a holistic and forward-looking approach to national security—one that integrates technology, intelligence, legal reforms, and inter-agency coordination. As threats become more diffuse and technologically sophisticated, speakers repeatedly emphasised that vigilance, adaptability, and unity among security agencies will be crucial in safeguarding the country.

The conference concluded with a shared resolve to strengthen India’s counter-terrorism ecosystem, ensure faster and more effective responses to emerging threats, and protect vulnerable sections of society from radicalisation and exploitation.