Following precise Indian military strikes on terror camps in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, Pakistan launched a retaliatory campaign involving both physical and digital warfare. While drone and missile attacks were thwarted by Indian defence systems, the digital front witnessed a barrage of state-sponsored cyberattacks and hacktivist activities aimed at crippling key Indian systems.
According to The Times of India, multiple cyberattacks were directed at defence PSUs, their MSME vendors, and vital infrastructure such as ports, airports, power grids, Indian Railways, and telecom giants like BSNL. Financial services including UPI platforms, digital wallets, and stock exchanges were also reportedly in the crosshairs.
Sources said the objective was to steal strategic information, disrupt civilian life, and dent India’s image globally. These attacks reportedly aimed to extract data on missile systems and defence readiness. Indian retaliation reportedly inflicted heavy damage on Pakistani military assets, but the cyber front remains active.
ALSO READ: FCRF Launches Campus Ambassador Program to Empower India’s Next-Gen Cyber Defenders
Cyber Warfare Tactics: From Phishing to Website Defacement
Cyber forensic expert and Interpol trainer Pendyala Krishna Shastry confirmed that the ongoing cyber campaign involves a variety of attack vectors: malware injections, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, phishing campaigns, and website defacements. These tactics were used to infiltrate and disrupt sectors such as finance, energy, telecom, and public utilities.
Tracking platform Zone-H confirmed several breaches of Indian government domains. Websites such as the National Institute of Water Sports (niws.nic.in) and nationaltrust.nic.in were defaced, though later restored. Another major disruption was reported on the Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) website, where a message from a group calling itself “Mr Habib 404 – Pakistani Cyber Force” taunted, “You thought you were safe, but we are here.”
While CCL’s Public Relations Officer Alok Gupta stated that there was no data loss and attributed the incident to a technical glitch, cyber experts caution that denial or downplaying such events only weakens national cyber posture.
India’s Cyber Defence Faces Crucial Test Amid Rising Tensions
As tensions escalate with Pakistan and its allies, India’s cyber resilience has emerged as a key battleground. The use of coordinated cyber warfare in conjunction with conventional attacks signals a shift in strategy by adversarial states.
Experts argue that India must urgently:
Invest in AI-based intrusion detection systems
Strengthen CERT-In and sector-specific SOCs (Security Operation Centres)
Mandate cyber hygiene across public sector websites
Expand international cyber intelligence cooperation
India has already witnessed a surge in cybercrime and state-sponsored intrusions in recent years, but the scale and timing of these post-Operation Sindoor attacks underscore the strategic intent behind them.