‘Pahalgam' face-off hits cyberspace: Pakistan hackers claim Indian defence systems breached
With tensions running high between India and Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, the conflict has now spilled onto cyberspace, with alarming implications. In a disturbing escalation, a Pakistan-based hackers' collective, the 'Pakistan Cyber Force', has claimed responsibility for a significant cyberattack on Indian defence institutions, targeting sensitive data repositories and public-facing platforms alike. Their claim suggests the attackers may have potentially compromised personal information related to defence persons, including their log-in credentials.The breach, which purportedly compromised confidential data from India's Military Engineer Services (MES) and the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), includes personal information and log-in credentials of defence personnel. While the full extent of the claimed intrusion is still under assessment, Indian cybersecurity experts fear the breach could represent one of the most consequential digital attacks on military-linked networks in recent years.advertisementIn a parallel act of provocation, the hackers attempted to deface the official website of the Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), a defense public sector undertaking (PSU) under the ministry of defence. Screenshots circulated online show the Pakistani flag and images of the Al-Khalid tank splashed across the site. Authorities responded swiftly, pulling down the website and launching a comprehensive audit. 'The website has been temporarily suspended to ensure its integrity and to investigate the extent of the intrusion,' said an official.These cyber-offensives come in the backdrop of the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives and reignited hostilities between India and Pakistan. Indian intelligence agencies believe the coordinated cyberattacks are linked to state-sponsored Pakistani groups. Several hacker outfits, including IOK Hacker, Cyber Group HOAX1337, National Cyber Crew and Team Insane PK, have surfaced as part of this digital onslaught.advertisement
The targets have ranged from Army Public Schools in Srinagar, Ranikhet, Nagrota and Sunjuwan to the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO), the Indian Air Force Placement Organisation portal and even civilian-facing sites such as those of the Maharashtra and Rajasthan governments. Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, data theft and defacements have been the primary tactics, with hackers pushing inflammatory claims, including allegations that the Pahalgam attack was orchestrated by India itself.India's cyber defences, led by CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) and the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), are now on high alert. Critical websites are undergoing rapid audits, real-time intrusion detection systems are being upgraded, and AI-driven threat analysis is being deployed. Defence personnel are being retrained to guard against phishing and credential theft.Despite this surge in attacks, Indian agencies say no operational or classified military networks have been compromised. 'We remain confident in our layered cybersecurity architecture. These were low-level surface breaches, not penetrations into core defence networks,' said a defence official, who did not wish to be named.Yet, cyberwarfare is now clearly part of the broader strategic contest. Alongside physical and diplomatic responses, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, border closures and the downgrading of diplomatic ties, digital retaliation has emerged. Indian hacktivist groups, such as the India Cyber Force, have claimed counterstrikes, breaching Pakistani systems, including the AJK Supreme Court, the University of Balochistan and the Sindh Police database.advertisementBut beyond the tangible breaches lies an equally dangerous campaign: disinformation. In a bid to manipulate public perception and undermine India's credibility, pro-Pakistan social media handles have been caught spreading fake documents and false claims, including fabricated assessments about India's military preparedness. One such lie involved senior officer Lieutenant General Gen M.V. Suchindra Kumar, falsely claimed to have been removed or arrested post-Pahalgam attack, whereas he had retired after four decades of service.Adding to the psychological warfare, the Pakistani media and social platforms have floated alarms that India was planning a military strike within 24-36 hours of the Pahalgam attack. Indian officials have dismissed these as panic propaganda designed to paint India as the aggressor and distract from Pakistan's alleged role in cross-border terrorism.This multi-pronged offensive, combining cyber intrusions, psychological operations and disinformation, underscores a new phase in the India-Pakistan conflict. As physical borders bristle with tension, the virtual frontier is fast becoming the most volatile and unpredictable battleground.Subscribe to India Today Magazineadvertisement
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