India-Pakistan in Cyberspace: Pakistan’s Path to Cyber Resilience

Abstract

The cyber conflicts between India and Pakistan, stemming from their longstanding geopolitical rivalry, have materialized in significant events such as the OGDCL virus attack and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre hacking. These incidents exemplify the deliberate utilization of cyber methods for espionage, disruption, and propaganda, highlighting the intricate dynamics between governmental and non-governmental entities in the realm of cyber warfare. The attacks emphasize the susceptibility of essential infrastructure and the possibility of substantial economic and security consequences. This potential for significant repercussions should raise concern and awareness. In order to address these increasing threats, Pakistan must allocate resources towards developing strong cybersecurity systems, encourage collaboration between public and private sectors for sharing information on threats, participate in cyber diplomacy to establish global standards and cooperative mechanisms, improve the technical expertise of cybersecurity professionals through training programs, and update legal frameworks to combat cyber crimes and ensure responsibility effectively.