Counterterrorism Narratives and Global Opinion Building: India’s Moral Diplomacy in the Post- 9/11 Order

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, counterterrorism has become a central organizing principle of international security discourse. While major powers have relied primarily on military and intelligence capabilities, India has simultaneously pursued a strategy of narrative construction and moral diplomacy in global forums. This article argues that India’s counterterrorism diplomacy in the post-9/11 order represents a deliberate effort to shape international opinion through normative framing rather than coercive leverage alone. Drawing on constructivist international relations theory and the concept of strategic narratives, the study examines how India has framed terrorism as a universal moral threat in multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Financial Action Task Force, BRICS, and the G20.Using qualitative discourse analysis of official speeches, diplomatic statements, and multilateral resolutions between 2001 and 2023, the article demonstrates that India has sought to transition from a state-centric security claimant to a norm entrepreneur advocating a universal definition of terrorism. This moral framing serves multiple strategic purposes: delegitimizing state-sponsored terrorism, consolidating India’s reputation as a responsible global actor, and strengthening its claim to major power status. However, the effectiveness of this strategy remains constrained by geopolitical contestation and competing narratives within global institutions. The article contributes to the literature by conceptualizing counterterrorism diplomacy as a form of soft power embedded in normative persuasion and global opinion