Pakistan-sponsored proxy warfare, counter-terrorism challenges and the need for stronger intelligence coordination were among the key issues discussed on the opening day of the 9th National Security Strategies Conference in New Delhi on Monday, bringing together senior officials from India's security and police establishment.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the two-day conference, which is being held in a hybrid format and has participation from more than 850 officers from across the country. The deliberations are aimed at reviewing emerging internal security threats and strengthening coordination among agencies responsible for dealing with them.
Among the major subjects taken up on the first day were Pakistan's proxy warfare against India, the response to terrorism, terror financing and the fusion, analysis and operational use of intelligence through the Multi Agency Centre (MAC).
Officials also examined the role of external actors considered hostile to India's interests and their domestic linkages, including connections with narcotics trafficking.
Intelligence coordination in focus
A significant part of the discussions centred on improving the manner in which intelligence gathered by different agencies is pooled, analysed and converted into actionable inputs.
The Multi Agency Centre serves as an important platform for intelligence sharing among central and state agencies. Strengthening the mechanism has assumed greater importance as security threats increasingly cut across geographical and institutional boundaries.
Officials deliberated on ways to improve intelligence fusion and ensure that information reaching different agencies can be rapidly analysed and used for operations on the ground.
The conference also examined India's response to contemporary counter-terrorism challenges, including the changing methods used by terror networks and their supporters.
Pakistan's use of proxy warfare was discussed as a distinct security challenge. The issue remains central to India's counter-terror strategy, with New Delhi repeatedly accusing Islamabad of supporting and facilitating terrorist groups targeting India.
Encrypted apps pose fresh challenge
The illegal use of encrypted communication applications and emerging technologies was another major subject before the conference.
Security agencies have increasingly encountered cases in which criminals, terrorists and organised networks use encrypted platforms to conceal communications, creating difficulties for conventional surveillance and investigation.
Officials discussed the challenges arising from such technologies and the need for law-enforcement agencies to keep pace with rapidly changing communication tools.
The conference also examined the use of technology for crowd management, an area that has become increasingly relevant for police forces handling large gatherings, demonstrations and major public events.
Security of India's uninhabited islands was another issue discussed during the opening day's proceedings, reflecting the broader scope of the conference beyond conventional policing and counter-terror operations.
Narcotics and terror funding examined
The nexus between narcotics trafficking and national security also figured prominently in the deliberations. Authorities have repeatedly expressed concern over drug-smuggling networks being used to generate funds for terrorist and organised criminal activities.
The conference examined domestic connections of hostile external actors and the manner in which narcotics networks can intersect with other security threats.
Terror financing was discussed separately, with agencies reviewing mechanisms used to move and conceal funds and the challenges involved in identifying financial networks supporting extremist activity.
The government has increasingly emphasised a coordinated approach involving intelligence, police, financial and investigative agencies to disrupt such networks rather than focusing solely on individuals directly involved in acts of terrorism.
Over 850 officers join deliberations
The National Security Strategies Conference provides a platform for senior police officers, security agencies and domain specialists to exchange operational experiences and formulate responses to emerging threats.
Its hybrid format has enabled participation by more than 850 officers from across the country, allowing officials outside the Capital to join the discussions virtually.
The second day of the conference is expected to continue deliberations on national security challenges and measures to improve cooperation between the Centre, states and different security agencies.
With terrorism increasingly intersecting with technology, organised crime, narcotics, financial networks and hostile foreign actors, the conference reflects the government's effort to develop a more integrated security framework capable of responding to threats that no longer remain confined to traditional categories.