After Red Fort blast, strategic restraint is no longer an option

The November 10-11 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort has shattered a long period of calm and revived memories of the city’s violent past. If proven to be a terror strike, it signals a dangerous evolution - leaner, tech-driven, and disturbingly home-grown.

The arrests across several states and the discovery of huge explosive caches reveal both the scale of the threat and the state’s vigilance. Yet, rhetoric alone cannot secure the nation.

The Modi government must now move from slogans to systemic reform- creating a unified, intelligence-driven counter-terror architecture that anticipates, not reacts to, the next attack

Delhi- the heartbeat of India- has once again come under attack. The November 10/11 blast near Red Fort has reopened the scars of the past, recalling how the national capital has been a recurring target of terror strikes since 1996.

If ongoing investigations confirm a terrorist hand, the incident underscores how terror modules have evolved — becoming more sophisticated, more domestic, and chillingly, more “professional.” What is particularly alarming this time is that the network reportedly includes medical doctors.

This marks the first major terror strike after Operation Sindhoor in May 2025, India’s retaliatory mission following the Pahalgam attack. That operation — a blend of military and covert non-military measures — destroyed nine major terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), eliminated over 100 terrorists, and was hailed as having “broken Pakistan’s backbone.”

If this latest blast appears to be a Pakistani-linked act, it poses a grave question: how long can India afford any form of “strategic restraint” toward a neighbour that continues to export terrorism as state policy?

Political Fallout: Parliament Showdown Ahead

This blast will inevitably dominate the coming Winter Session of Parliament starting December 1. The opposition will seize the moment to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging security lapses and ridiculing Operation Sindhoor as a “chutput” act.

They will accuse the government of being bold only during elections, claiming it “steals vote but lacks the courage to take on the enemy.”

Expect the usual noise — that the PM was attending a function in Bhutan instead of rushing back, that India missed another chance to reclaim PoK, Home Minister should resign and worst innocent should not be punished, intelligence has failed, they cry over immigrants, how did so much explosive enter India, no action after Pahalgam incident — but not a single constructive suggestion.

What they will not acknowledge are the swift nationwide crackdowns and arrests made across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad soon after some posters appeared on October 27 in J&K, or the seizure of a massive cache of explosives and weapons since Sunday.

The fact remains: terrorism today is not just an imported product; it is sustained by home-grown sleeper cells that act on cues from across the border.

The terror ecosystem in India — radical preachers, who this time are highly educated and are led by those who are medical doctors indulging in covert funding channels, and online recruiters and executing terror attack plans.

Faridabad: A New Hub Emerges

One chilling revelation from the current probe is how Faridabad, part of the National Capital Region, has emerged as a major operational hub.

Even more disturbing is the participation of radicalised professionals — such as Shaheen, a doctor from Jammu & Kashmir, accused of recruiting and indoctrinating women using encrypted digital platforms and social media tools.

The use of educated, tech-savvy operatives signal a shift in terror strategy. The modules are leaner, smarter, and better networked — merging ideology with technology. It’s no longer the stereotypical extremist in fatigues; it’s the professional in a lab coat or a corporate cubicle, working from within.

The Lost Context: A Generation Without Terror

Between 2008 and 2025, Delhi did not witness a single major terror strike — a remarkable stretch of relative peace in a city that had suffered serial blasts and armed attacks through the late 1990s and early 2000s. An entire generation grew up unscarred by fear, perhaps forgetting how fragile peace in Delhi once was.

Yet, the opposition will avoid any discussion on how terror tactics have modernised or how government agencies need advanced tools, AI-based surveillance, and coordinated intelligence sharing to counter new-age threats.

They will ignore the recent intelligence alerts that led to the pre-emptive nationwide raids, including one of the biggest recoveries in NCR’s history.

In a coordinated operation by Jammu & Kashmir Police and Haryana Police, agencies uncovered 360 kg of suspected ammonium nitrate and 2,900 kg of IED-making materials — detonators, wires, and bomb components — from a Faridabad apartment.

The operation had been under surveillance for two weeks. It’s a staggering haul, and yet the political discourse will overlook it.

Time for the Government to Match Words with Action

While the government deserves credit for its counter-terror operations and bold stance during Operation Sindhoor, it must avoid complacency and self-congratulation.

Repeated boasts that “Pakistan’s back has been broken” now sound hollow when the enemy can still strike in the capital’s heart.

Prime Minister Modi, who has often taunted the opposition for their weakness on terror, must now demonstrate decisive resolve. “Zero tolerance” cannot remain a slogan. The Prime Minister’s statement that “all those responsible will be brought to justice” must translate into visible, swift, and punitive action.

The perpetrators must be eliminated, not merely prosecuted. India must also expose the hypocrisy of the United States and Western powers, which still court Pakistan despite its proven terror links.

New Delhi should not succumb to any diplomatic pressure — even if US president Donald Trum really attempts to mediate. The message must be unequivocal: no mercy, no negotiation, no retreat.

A national security doctrine for the next decade should include a unified command structure for all intelligence and counter-terror agencies — similar to the tri-services command in defence.

Fragmented operations and bureaucratic overlap have long diluted India’s response. Only a coordinated system can dismantle entrenched sleeper cells and their cross-border links.

A City Scarred by History

Delhi’s tryst with terror is as old as its modern history. Since 1996, the city’s crowded markets and cultural landmarks have repeatedly been targeted — each attack leaving a deeper psychological scar.

1996 Lajpat Nagar Blast: A powerful explosion tore through one of the capital’s busiest shopping zones, killing 13 and injuring dozens.

1997 Serial Blasts: Multiple explosions in Sadar Bazaar, Karol Bagh, Rani Bagh, Chandni Chowk, and even a moving bus in Punjabi Bagh brought the city to its knees.

2000 Red Fort Attack: Gunmen opened fire inside the historic fort complex, killing two.

2001 Parliament Attack: A dramatic assault that claimed nine lives and shook the very seat of Indian democracy.

Just as citizens began to breathe easier, history seems to have repeated itself.

The Road Ahead

The latest blast must not be seen as just another episode in a tragic cycle. It’s a wake-up call to revisit the fundamentals of India’s counter-terror architecture — from intelligence sharing and cyber-monitoring to local policing and civic vigilance.

For the government, it’s an opportunity to translate its tough rhetoric into a concrete, long-term framework that ensures terror modules — domestic or cross-border — are dismantled permanently. For the opposition, it’s time to rise above partisan politics and contribute ideas, not slogans.

True victory lies in ensuring that the next generation grows up in a country where “terror” is only a word in history books — not in the headlines.

(The author is a former Chief Editor at The Hans India)