New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said Jammu and Kashmir had been “freed from terrorism” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asserted that the Centre was now focused on making the country infiltration-free through a comprehensive border security framework.
Addressing the Land Border Districts’ Superintendents of Police Conference-2026 in New Delhi, Shah said the country’s successes against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, insurgency in the Northeast and Left Wing Extremism reflected the outcome of coordinated efforts by security agencies and governments.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country has been freed from Naxalism and terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and the North-East, which is a sign of our collective success,” Shah said.
According to an official statement, the Home Minister said the conference had institutionalised a comprehensive approach to border security by bringing together border guarding forces, state governments, district administrations and central agencies.
Shah said the Centre was creating a “Smart Border” system and an integrated security grid to make India’s borders more secure and prevent infiltration.
“A secure border, prosperous border region and a vigilant society together can make the country secure,” he said, adding that the government’s approach had shifted from reactive measures to permanent, long-term solutions.
The Home Minister said the Centre had significantly enhanced investment in border infrastructure, claiming that expenditure in the sector had increased by 400 per cent under the present government. He said the Vibrant Villages Programme was aimed at improving infrastructure, creating employment opportunities and ensuring effective implementation of welfare schemes in border villages to discourage migration.
Shah also announced that the government was implementing a ₹31,000-crore project to fence the 1,610-km India-Myanmar border. He said the initiative was intended to curb illegal infiltration, proxy war, narcotics trafficking, smuggling, drone-related threats, organised crime and radicalisation.
The Home Minister said the government had launched a Demography Mission to study demographic changes, identify factors contributing to abnormal demographic growth and recommend corrective measures. He alleged that illegal infiltration was a key factor behind demographic changes in border areas and stressed the need for timely reporting of such developments.
Highlighting the government’s next priority, Shah said the Centre aimed to inflict a decisive blow to the narcotics network within the next three years.
“In the next three years, we will inflict serious damage on the narcotics menace and achieve victory over it as well,” he said.
The conference was attended by Union Ministers of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Union Home Secretary, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Directors General of Police of border states and other senior officials.
