Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the Intelligence Bureau’s National Security Strategies (NSS) Conference on August 25, emphasizing the administration's steadfast commitment to securing the nation's borders and safeguarding internal stability. Highlighting that unlawful cross-border movement directly impacts national security, economic stability, and population balance, the Home Minister delivered a strong message regarding state sovereignty.

“Bharat is not a dharamshala”, Shah asserted, maintaining that only rightful citizens possess the legitimate privilege to live within the country. He further vowed, “Modi govt will make the country free of infiltrators in a very short time,” outlining a proactive stance on border management.

To achieve this, Shah shared that he personally travelled across every border state over the preceding eight months, introducing a comprehensive four-pronged strategy designed to reinforce frontier defenses. Furthermore, he urged security forces to integrate the PRAHAR strategy into daily operations with the clear objective of eradicating terrorism and dismantling its expansive network entirely.

A Unified Framework Across Internal Security

Connecting border security to the wider internal-security architecture, the Home Minister stressed that addressing organized threats requires seamless synergy between state police departments, central agencies, and Central Armed Police Forces. Reflecting on past domestic challenges, Shah noted that major internal security crises such as Naxalism, insurgency in the Northeast, and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir have been effectively tackled through coordinated efforts. He criticized past administrations for failing to recognize the long-term gravity of threats like drug trafficking and regional unrest early on, which forced the nation to grapple with the consequences for decades.

Demonstrating the power of decisive coordination, Shah cited the swift action taken against the Popular Front of India (PFI), noting that the entire cadre was eliminated and the organization was banned overnight through synchronized Centre-state operations.

International Fugitives and Modern Legal Frameworks

The government’s ongoing push to hold lawbreakers accountable extends far beyond domestic borders. Between 2019 and 2026, approximately 274 fugitives hiding overseas were successfully brought back to face Indian law. Shah encouraged all states to establish ambitious targets for extraditing remaining fugitives. Additionally, he highlighted the upgrade of the Multi-Agency Centre (MAC) as a vital platform for cross-agency intelligence sharing.

Looking toward judicial reforms, Shah stated that India’s three new criminal laws will be completely implemented within the coming year. These legal updates are designed to expedite judicial proceedings, potentially allowing criminal cases to reach the Supreme Court within a three-year timeframe while targeting a 25 percent increase in conviction rates.

Leveraging Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Narcotics Control

Urging young police and security personnel to embrace modern technological capabilities, Shah advocated for the integration of data analytics and artificial intelligence to identify emerging crime patterns. Moving toward predictive policing allows agencies to preemptively address risks before they escalate into major crises.

Addressing the severe threat of narcotics, Shah called for the nationwide ground-level implementation of the Narcotics Control Vision Document 2026-2029 to shield younger generations from substance abuse. He outlined a systematic three-level strategy—Detect, Disrupt, and Destroy—aimed at dismantling the entire supply chain of the illegal drug trade. Highlighting India's resolve, Shah stated, “Only India can fight the most successful battle against narcotics.”

Anticipating Future Crises and Historical Context

Concluding his address, Shah emphasized that security policies cannot operate in isolation from global shifts. Agencies must account for evolving risks such as global instability, energy crises, supply-chain disruptions, rising radicalism, cyber warfare, infiltration, and narcotics networks 15 to 20 years into the future.

This recent address builds upon a series of policy rollouts over recent months:

• May 22: Unveiled plans for a smart border security system utilizing drones, radars, and smart cameras along nearly 6,000 km of the Pakistan and Bangladesh borders.
• May 26: Formed a high-level committee chaired by retired Justice Prakash Prabhakar Navlekar to study population changes linked to illegal infiltration.
• May 28: Noted that infiltrators who entered during prior state tenures in regions like West Bengal have begun returning voluntarily, urging others to follow suit.

Through technological modernization, strategic foresight, and inter-agency coordination, the government continues to pursue its overarching objective of an infiltrator-free, drug-free, and secure nation.