Pakistan-based hacker group, identifying itself as the “Pakistan Cyber Force,” claimed responsibility for breaching several Indian defence websites. The targeted sites included the Indian Military Engineering Services and the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, among others. The hackers reportedly accessed sensitive data related to defence personnel, including login credentials, and attempted to take control of the Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited website. They also replaced an image of an Indian tank with a Pakistani one on the Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited webpage .
This cyber attack is part of a broader pattern of escalating cyber hostilities between India and Pakistan. Previously, in April 2025, a Pakistan-based group known as “IOK Hacker” attempted to deface and disrupt Indian Army schools’ websites, including those in Srinagar and Ranikhet. These efforts were thwarted by India’s cybersecurity infrastructure, which detected and mitigated the attacks in real-time .
The May 5 cyber breach coincides with heightened tensions following the 2025 Pahalgam attack, where 26 civilians were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir. In response, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, expelled Pakistani diplomats, and closed borders. Pakistan retaliated by suspending the Simla Agreement, restricting trade, and closing airspace. These developments have led to a standoff between the two nations .
