In the aftermath of last week’s terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of several Indian security personnel, tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified—not just along the Line of Control but also in the digital realm. Cyberspace has become the latest battleground, with hacking groups from both countries launching a series of attacks and counterattacks, igniting what cybersecurity experts are calling a full-blown digital firefight.
According to Indian intelligence officials, several attempts by Pakistan-based hacker groups to breach Indian digital infrastructure were successfully thwarted over the past few days. These attempts ranged from website defacements to distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks targeting government servers and private sector networks.
“We are on high alert,” a senior official from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) said. “Our systems are actively monitoring and neutralizing threats in real time. These aren’t just amateur hackers—there is evidence of coordinated and state-backed cyber activity.”
Tactical Shift from Propaganda to Infrastructure Attacks
Traditionally, cyber exchanges between hacker groups in India and Pakistan have taken the form of symbolic gestures—defacing websites with patriotic messages or releasing private data of rival nationals. But this time, officials and experts say the attacks are more calculated and potentially harmful.
“What we are witnessing is not just cyber graffiti anymore,” said Rajiv Khurana, a Delhi-based cybersecurity analyst. “There’s a shift in tactics. Groups are now aiming for infrastructure—trying to access databases, disable public utilities, or cause economic disruptions.”
One such example was an attempted breach of the regional electricity distribution grid in Punjab, detected and blocked late Monday night. While officials have refrained from attributing the attack publicly, internal investigations suggest a coordinated effort originating from across the border.
Hacktivist Groups on Both Sides Mobilize
On social media and messaging platforms like Telegram and Discord, hacktivist groups have openly declared digital war. Prominent Pakistani groups such as “Team Cyber Warriors” and “Dragon Force PK” have claimed responsibility for attacking Indian news websites and leaking databases. In retaliation, Indian hacker collectives including “Indian Cyber Force” and “Dark Army” have defaced several Pakistani government websites and released alleged emails of government employees.
Screenshots and proof-of-hack images are circulating widely on X (formerly Twitter), further fanning nationalistic fervor on both sides.
“These groups thrive on visibility,” says cyber warfare researcher Dr. Meera Iyer from the Indian Institute of Science. “By showcasing their hits online, they not only boost morale among sympathizers but also pressure governments to act—or retaliate.”
State vs. Non-State Actors
While many of these digital assaults are carried out by non-state actors, officials in New Delhi are not ruling out indirect state sponsorship or facilitation. “There’s a fine line between denial and plausible deniability,” noted a senior intelligence officer. “Even if governments are not officially involved, these groups are often encouraged, trained, or at the very least tolerated by their host nations.”
Pakistan’s government, for its part, has denied involvement in any cyber hostilities. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, “The government of Pakistan does not support or condone any form of cyber aggression. We urge restraint and focus on peace.”
India, however, remains skeptical.
Impact on Businesses and Public Services
While government systems have shown resilience, experts warn that smaller entities—especially startups, educational institutions, and healthcare providers—are more vulnerable.
“We’ve already received 38 incident reports from Indian businesses since Sunday,” said a cybersecurity officer at a major IT security firm based in Bengaluru. “Most are phishing attempts and ransomware payloads targeting critical data.”
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued an advisory urging all organizations to update their firewalls, implement multi-factor authentication, and avoid using outdated software platforms.
Several state governments, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, have put their IT departments on alert and strengthened cyber surveillance protocols.
Call for Diplomatic De-escalation
Amid escalating cyber tensions, global watchdogs and tech think tanks are calling for diplomatic engagement and international cyber norms.
“Cyberspace is not governed by the Geneva Conventions,” warned Mark D’Souza, an analyst at the Institute for Cyber Peace in Geneva. “Without dialogue and de-escalation frameworks, things can spiral quickly—especially when cyber incidents misfire or trigger broader crises.”
India and Pakistan have no formal cyber coordination mechanism, unlike other nuclear-armed rivals. Experts suggest that building even a basic incident-response communication channel could prevent accidental escalations in the future.
A Long War Ahead?
For now, it appears the cyber conflict is far from over. With tensions remaining high in Kashmir and nationalistic sentiments rising, both hacker communities and digital defenders are bracing for more attacks.
“The digital front is the new frontier,” concluded cybersecurity expert Rajiv Khurana. “What we’re seeing may just be the beginning of a prolonged and complex cyber confrontation.”
As officials and engineers race to defend the digital perimeters of the nation, the public is being urged to stay vigilant, avoid sharing suspicious links, and report any online anomalies immediately.
