A group of Pakistani hackers, calling themselves the ‘Pakistan Cyber Force,’ has claimed responsibility for breaching several Indian defence websites. According to the hackers, they gained access to sensitive data from institutions like the Indian Military Engineering Services and the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. This breach comes amid rising tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Though Indian authorities have yet to confirm the full extent of the breach, officials familiar with the matter have acknowledged the claims. The hackers reportedly accessed sensitive personnel information, including login credentials of defence staff.
In response to the claims, senior management at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses strongly denied that its website was hacked, according to ANI news agency.
The hacker group posted on its social media account, asserting that they had breached classified data, including sensitive login credentials related to Indian defence personnel. Consequently, cybersecurity agencies have launched investigations to determine the scope of the breach.
In addition to this cyber intrusion, the group allegedly tried to deface the official website of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited, a public sector company under India’s Ministry of Defence (MoD). The defacement attempt involved using the Pakistan flag and the Al Khalid tank image. As a preventive measure, officials took the website offline to assess any potential damage and maintain its integrity.
Cybersecurity experts and government agencies are closely monitoring the situation to detect further cyberattacks, particularly those possibly linked to Pakistan-sponsored hackers.
The alleged breach comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, following the Pahalgam attack, where 26 people lost their lives. India retaliated by suspending the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, which governs water sharing between the two nations.
This hack marks the second such cyberattack by Pakistan-backed hackers. Earlier, groups identified as “Cyber Group HOAX1337” and “National Cyber Crew” attempted to breach Indian websites, targeting digital platforms tied to children, veterans, and welfare services. They attempted to deface the websites of Army Public School Nagrota and Sunjuwan with offensive content related to the Pahalgam attack.
