Cyber Threats Escalate As India-Pakistan Tensions Spill Online
The recent military confrontation between India and Pakistan is now being mirrored in cyberspace — and the digital fallout could affect far more than just government websites.
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor, a series of missile strikes against what it called terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. The operation, the largest of its kind since 1971, was a direct response to the killing of Indian tourists in Kashmir in April. Within hours, cyberattacks targeting Indian institutions began to spike — led not by states, but by loose, politically motivated hacktivist groups.
These groups, often with ties to Southeast Asia and the Middle East, have ramped up cyber offensives against Indian government agencies, banks, telecoms, and even education providers, according to a new alert from cybersecurity firm Radware.
'What's unfolding is a digital echo of the military conflict,' said Radware in its report. 'The cyber battlefield is now just as active.'
Why Businesses Should Care
While most attacks so far have focused on government portals and public-facing websites, the tactics being used — especially distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks — are just as capable of disrupting business operations.
India's financial regulators have already taken notice. The National Stock Exchange and BSE temporarily blocked access to overseas users as a precaution, following threats of cyberattacks. Although trading remained unaffected, the move reflects the heightened alert level across sectors.
The broader concern is the potential spillover. As nationalist hacktivist groups on both sides of the border escalate their activities, businesses may become collateral damage — especially if they serve public utilities, handle sensitive data, or operate infrastructure deemed symbolic or strategic.
A Look at the Numbers
In 2025 alone, over 100 Indian organizations have been targeted by hacktivists.
At least 256 cyberattacks have been claimed by 26 different groups, many operating from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and beyond.
Since Operation Sindoor, over 75% of new attacks have hit government systems, but finance, telecom, and manufacturing firms have also been affected.
A New Kind of Threat Actor
These aren't traditional criminal hackers seeking profit — they're ideologically driven activists using widely available tools to make political statements, disrupt services, and garner attention. Some groups have turned to open-source DDoS software like MegaMedusa, allowing even unskilled users to launch effective attacks with minimal setup.
Radware also notes the emergence of "hacktivist alliances" — informal partnerships between groups that may not share a language or region, but are united by perceived enemies. Some of these groups are even aligned with actors involved in conflicts outside South Asia, creating global linkages that complicate response strategies.
What's Next?
With threats still mounting, and major cyber groups like RipperSec and Mysterious Team Pakistan yet to act on recent pledges, the situation remains volatile. Indian-aligned hackers have already launched retaliatory campaigns, raising fears of a widening cyber conflict with no clear rules of engagement.
For business leaders, especially those with operations in India, Pakistan, or connected markets, the message is clear:
Review your cyber readiness plans — DDoS protection, monitoring, and incident response should be up to date.
Pay attention to geopolitical developments, as they are increasingly tied to digital risk.
Prepare for downstream impacts — even if your organization isn't a direct target, suppliers, partners, or critical platforms could be affected.
As the line between physical and digital conflict continues to blur, businesses can no longer treat geopolitics as someone else's problem. In today's connected world, cyber risk is a frontline issue — and it's no longer theoretical.
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