After Pahalgam, a New Battle Begins Online: Pakistan’s Cyberattacks on India

In the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, India now finds itself targeted not just on the ground, but in cyberspace as well. A series of cyberattacks originating from Pakistan have emerged, highlighting how modern geopolitical conflicts increasingly extend into the digital domain.

Cyberwarfare: The New Battlefield

Modern conflicts are no longer restricted to borders or military zones — they now spill over into the digital space, affecting public infrastructure, communication platforms, and institutional trust. The recent cyber offensives following the Pahalgam attack demonstrate that cyberwarfare is now an established tool in Pakistan’s strategic arsenal.

Just days after the attack, websites of Indian military institutions, schools, and government departments were defaced with inflammatory messages and propaganda. These were not random acts of vandalism, but calculated psychological operations aimed at spreading panic, misinformation, and distrust among Indian citizens.

The Targets and Tactics

Among the first victims was the website of the Army College of Nursing, which was defaced with messages in English and Urdu proclaiming religious supremacy and glorifying the Two-Nation Theory. This hack echoed sentiments recently expressed by Pakistan’s army chief and was designed to provoke and demoralize.

Soon after, the Army Public Schools in Srinagar and Ranikhet faced similar fates — with not just defacements, but Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks that temporarily crippled their online presence. Attackers even attempted to breach the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) and

A view of the hacked homepage of the Army College of Nursing.

the Indian Air Force Placement Organisation, hinting at a broader campaign targeting India’s defense-related infrastructure.

On April 29, the Rajasthan education department’s website was hacked with mocking messages about Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s 2019 capture. The message further claimed that “Pahalgam was an inside job” and threatened future cyberattacks with the chilling line: “The next hit won’t be bullets — it’ll be bytes.”

Phishing, Malware, and Propaganda

Cybersecurity teams also discovered a malicious PDF titled ‘Report & Update Regarding Pahalgam Terror Attack.pdf’ circulating online. Hosted on phishing domains mimicking Indian government portals, the file served as a vehicle for stealing sensitive data.

Reports from Quick Heal and other cybersecurity firms confirmed the involvement of APT36 (also known as Transparent Tribe) — a Pakistan-based Advanced Persistent Threat group. This group has a history of deploying CrimsonRAT malware and MeshAgent remote monitoring tools to infiltrate Indian systems.

There’s also been a surge in pro-Pakistani ad placements on OTT platforms, a subtle but significant attempt to infiltrate India’s digital psyche with propaganda and psychological warfare.

Who’s Behind the Attacks?

Two primary hacking groups have claimed responsibility for these cyber offensives:

• Team Insane PK: Known for previous attacks, including those around the G20 Summit and even commercial entities like Burger Singh. This group specializes in DDoS, defacements, and coordinated disinformation campaigns.
• Internet of Khilafah (IOK Hacker): An ideologically driven outfit pushing extremist narratives and targeting Indian government domains.

Both groups are believed to operate with support — direct or indirect — from Pakistan’s deep state, leveraging cyber tools to complement traditional military strategies.

The Bigger Picture

Indian intelligence officials view these incidents not merely as technical disruptions but as deliberate acts of cyberterrorism. With national defense systems proving robust and impenetrable, attackers have turned to softer, more visible targets — such as educational and public service websites — to generate headlines, trigger panic, and polarize communities.

Cyber experts agree: these are not standalone acts but well-orchestrated extensions of Pakistan’s geopolitical objectives. By weaponizing cyberspace, Islamabad is attempting to destabilize Indian institutions, sow communal discord, and tarnish India’s global image.

Lessons for the Future

Although no classified data has reportedly been compromised so far, these attacks underscore the need for a multi-layered cybersecurity defense across India’s digital ecosystem — from government and military sites to educational institutions and private enterprises.

“Cyberattacks are no longer fringe acts of disruption… They have become deliberate extensions of geopolitical strategy,” says Sundareshwar Krishnamurthy, Partner & Cybersecurity Leader at PwC India.

The Pahalgam cyber fallout is a reminder: India must remain vigilant — not just on its borders, but in every byte of its digital infrastructure.

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