This paper considers topical issues of today’s theory and practice of countering international terrorism. The main stress is laid upon the analysis of crucial theoretical questions and practical problems of combating international terrorism. Proceeding from an overview of approaches to the description of «international terrorism» in literature and official regulations, the paper endeavors to throw some light upon the characteristics and key aspects on the phenomenon. At the same time, the author differentiates between international terrorism and national liberation movements in order to draw a distinctive line between them. Great attention is paid to illustrating social and psychological goals of international terrorism linked to generating fear, panic, worry about the future, and stripping people of the feeling of security. Among international political goals of terrorist acts we find a desire for coercing public politicians, governmental bodies or international organizations to do what terrorists want, and for the destabilization of key political, constitutional, economic and social institutions and structures of modern states or international organizations. The author presents a generalization of the practice of developing laws and regulations aimed at countering international terrorism and analyzes the regulatory and legal framework of the Russian Federation in this area. The author also points out that the UN member-countries have to enter into a Global Counterterrorism Pact entailing not only close collaboration in the area of combating international terrorism and jointly taking preventive measures against it, but also a ban on moral and material support to terrorist organizations, supply of weapons and other resources to them, including the shutting of all and any channels of recruitment of new guerilla combatants in different countries.