National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, one of India’s most influential security strategists, asserted that India has successfully countered terrorism over the past decade, making the country—except for Jammu and Kashmir—largely secure from terror attacks. Speaking at the Sardar Patel Memorial Lecture on Governance, Doval emphasized that the last major terror incident in India’s hinterland occurred in 2013. He credited the country’s robust security mechanisms, strong governance, and deterrence capabilities for maintaining peace and stability across most regions of India.
India Has Stayed Largely Free from Terror Attacks Since 2013
Ajit Doval underscored that India’s counter-terrorism strategy has evolved significantly over the years, resulting in a long phase of internal peace and reduced terror activity. “The facts are facts, and they cannot be disputed. Terrorism in this country has been effectively countered. We had a major incident of terrorism on July 1, 2005, and the last one in 2013 in the hinterland. Except for Jammu and Kashmir, which had been a theatre of a proxy war or a covert warfare for Pakistan, the whole country has remained secure from terrorist attacks,” he said during his lecture.
The National Security Advisor noted that even though attempts have been made to disrupt peace, India’s intelligence and enforcement agencies have successfully foiled most plots. “Efforts were made. People were arrested. Explosives were recovered,” Doval said, highlighting the vigilance of India’s security forces. His remarks drew attention to how the nation’s counterterrorism framework—built over decades through policy reforms, inter-agency coordination, and improved intelligence sharing—has matured into a highly effective system capable of neutralizing emerging threats.
Doval’s comments reflected confidence in India’s internal security apparatus. He argued that the absence of any major terrorist incident in the country’s heartland for more than a decade is not accidental but a result of calculated measures and proactive operations. He credited both central and state agencies for their role in ensuring coordination and swift preventive actions.
While acknowledging that Jammu and Kashmir remains an exception due to its history as a battleground of proxy wars sponsored by Pakistan, Doval stressed that the rest of the country has remained peaceful and largely untouched by major acts of terror. He referred to the insurgency in Kashmir as a separate issue—one shaped by cross-border terrorism and geopolitical rivalry—but maintained that even there, India has achieved significant progress in curbing violence and restoring normalcy.
He also highlighted the importance of strategic deterrence, suggesting that India’s ability to project strength and respond decisively to threats has played a crucial role in maintaining peace. The concept of deterrence, according to Doval, is not limited to military capability but extends to the political will and psychological assurance that India can and will respond to any form of aggression with strength.
Decline in Left-Wing Extremism and Strengthened Governance
Another major point in Doval’s address was the significant reduction in left-wing extremism, which had once affected large parts of central and eastern India. According to him, left-wing extremism—often associated with the Maoist movement—has now shrunk to less than 11 percent of the areas it covered in 2014. “Enemies have remained very active, but fortunately, and it’s more of good fortune for the country, that we can say we have had no terrorist incident in the hinterland. The left-wing extremism has reduced to less than 11 per cent areas than what existed in 2014. Most of the districts which had been declared as left-wing prone have been declared safe,” he said.
This reduction, he added, has been the result of sustained counterinsurgency efforts, development initiatives in affected regions, and better governance practices. The government’s approach to tackling extremism has not only focused on security operations but also on addressing root causes such as poverty, lack of development, and alienation among local communities.
Doval credited both the central and state governments for implementing a multidimensional strategy that balances force with reform. By integrating economic opportunities, infrastructure projects, and local participation in governance, the government has been able to reclaim previously insurgent-affected territories. He emphasized that this success is not just about containing violence but about restoring the people’s faith in democracy and governance.
The NSA also pointed out that one of the major shifts in India’s internal security approach has been the focus on ensuring that every citizen feels secure—emotionally, physically, and psychologically. “It is not sufficient to say that we have taken sufficient security measures. What is equally important is that we are able to make every Indian feel secure, both from internal and external forces,” Doval remarked.
He explained that national security extends beyond preventing attacks—it also involves creating a sense of assurance among citizens that the state has both the capacity and the will to protect them. This feeling of security, according to Doval, is essential for the stability and progress of any nation. He stressed that the government’s success in countering terrorism and extremism has not only enhanced India’s global standing but has also contributed to its economic and social stability.
Referring to the concept of deterrence, Doval said that the credibility of a nation’s security system lies in its ability to convince adversaries of its readiness and resolve. “We can create deterrence that credibly convinces them we have the will and the strength to respond to any threat in a manner best for our national security,” he said.
The NSA further discussed the interconnectedness between governance and security, emphasizing that strong governance structures form the foundation of a secure nation. In this context, he referred to the recent political instability in neighboring countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal as examples of poor governance leading to national turmoil. “The rise and fall of the great empires, monarchies, oligarchies, aristocracies or democracies is actually a history of their governance. In the recent cases of regime change through non-constitutional methods in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and others, these were actually cases of poor governance. And that is how the governance matters,” Doval observed.
He argued that governance is not merely an administrative function but a dynamic process that directly affects the stability, prosperity, and security of a nation. Poor governance, he said, can lead to internal unrest, external vulnerability, and eventual collapse of public confidence in state institutions.
Through his lecture, Doval presented a broader vision of national security—one that goes beyond the traditional notions of borders and armies. His perspective connected governance, societal trust, law enforcement, and strategic deterrence as pillars of a secure and resilient India.
Doval’s remarks also served as an indirect reflection on the government’s success in ensuring internal peace amid global instability. He acknowledged that despite external challenges and regional tensions, India has managed to maintain domestic tranquility through strong leadership, intelligence-driven strategies, and public cooperation.
He reiterated that India’s security framework must continue to evolve with changing global realities, focusing on innovation, coordination, and inclusiveness. The aim, he said, is not just to prevent terrorism but to create an environment where such threats cannot take root.
In his concluding thoughts during the lecture, Doval highlighted that India’s stability today stands as a testament to effective governance and strategic foresight. His words underscored that the fight against terrorism and extremism is ongoing but that India’s resilience and unity remain its greatest strengths.
Through his address, Ajit Doval once again reinforced his long-held belief that national security and governance are inseparable pillars of a strong nation. His message resonated as both a reflection of India’s progress in combating terrorism and a reminder of the continued need for vigilance, good governance, and public confidence in the institutions that safeguard the nation.
