Indo-Pak & Israel-Iran

2. Indo-Pak & Israel-Iran: Cyber Wars Follow the Same Script? Cyber attacks on critical infrastructure are no longer secondary acts of disruption—they are now front-line tactics in modern warfare. Two parallel conflicts reveal striking similarities in how nations wage digital war.

3. The New Face of Modern Conflict Israel-Iran Cyber War India-Pakistan Digital Front Digital attacks have become as critical as ground operations, with state-backed APT groups targeting infrastructure and conducting sophisticated espionage campaigns. Operation Sindhoor in 2025 demonstrated how cyber attacks accompany missile strikes, following the Pahalgam terror attack incident. Both conflicts feature state-backed APT groups alongside hacktivists engaged in espionage, sabotage, and information warfare exercises. These attacks integrate seamlessly with traditional military operations, disrupting adversaries while influencing global audiences through information warfare.

4. Scale and Scope: Regional vs. Global Impact India-Pakistan Cyber Operations Iran-Israel Cyber Warfare Large-scale attacks on financial institutions and critical civilian infrastructure creating significant international repercussions. Characterized by localized but intense cyber offenses targeting crucial sectors including defense, government, and telecommunications. • Website defacements and DDoS attacks remain largely regional • Sophisticated targeting of banking and energy sectors • Focused attacks on specific government and military systems • Global spillover risks affecting allied nations • Advanced persistent threats with international reach • Limited global spillover effects

5. Attack Vectors: A Strategic Comparison Phishing & Malware DDoS Attacks Coordinated distributed denial-of-service campaigns overwhelming infrastructure and disrupting operations Sophisticated social engineering and custom malware deployment targeting critical systems and personnel Website Defacement Symbolic attacks on public-facing systems designed to demoralize and spread propaganda What remains consistent across both theaters is the strategic focus on cyber attacks on critical infrastructure as a means of exerting pressure and destabilization.