Pakistan’s air chief said that cyberattacks were launched targeting Indian communication hubs, power grids, and transport infrastructure during the May 2025 conflict between the two nuclear armed neighbors, describing the episode as part of a new model of cyber enabled and multi domain warfare. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu made the remarks during a ceremony in Islamabad marking the first anniversary of what Pakistan refers to as “Marka-e-Haqq” or Battle of Truth. He said the cyber operations were part of a broader military response during the four day confrontation that escalated rapidly following cross border developments in April and May 2025.
The conflict began after India accused Pakistan based militants of carrying out an April 22, 2025 attack in Pahalgam in Indian administered Kashmir that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, most of them tourists. Pakistan denied involvement and called for an independent investigation. Tensions escalated when India launched cross border strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, stating it had targeted militant infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan administered Kashmir. Pakistan, however, said civilian areas were affected and later responded with Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos, targeting Indian military installations. The resulting confrontation involved missiles, drones, artillery exchanges, and air operations before a US backed ceasefire was announced on May 10, 2025.
According to the air chief, Pakistan’s cyber force conducted offensive operations against Indian communication systems, power grids, and transport networks, which he said resulted in significant disruption across multiple Indian states and key military installations. India has not publicly confirmed these claims regarding cyberattacks on infrastructure during the conflict. Sidhu stated that the confrontation reflected the effectiveness of Pakistan’s military modernization efforts and integration of cyber, electronic warfare, and drone based capabilities developed over the past several years. He added that the conflict demonstrated a new form of integrated warfare, combining multiple operational domains into a coordinated strategy.
He further described the aerial engagement as unprecedented in scale, stating that it represented the largest and longest beyond visual range air combat engagement in history. Sidhu said Pakistan Air Force aircraft, including J-10 and F-16 fighters, intercepted Indian strike formations while cyber and electronic warfare systems disrupted coordination on the opposing side. He claimed that multiple Indian fighter aircraft, including Rafale jets, Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, and unmanned systems, were neutralized during the operation. India has disputed several battlefield claims made by Pakistan, including aircraft losses and damage assessments, and independent verification of these claims remains limited.
The air chief also stated that Pakistan deployed long range strike systems and drones targeting Indian military infrastructure, including air bases, command centers, and missile defense systems. He claimed that drone and missile operations struck 16 air bases within a period of 8 to 10 hours and that key installations, including BrahMos related sites and S-400 air defense batteries, were neutralized. He further said that Pakistan’s modernization drive enabled rapid deployment of advanced systems developed under constraints, including technologies produced through the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park. The remarks come amid continued competing narratives between India and Pakistan over the outcomes of the 2025 conflict, which drew international concern due to the nuclear capabilities of both states and the broader regional tensions over Kashmir.
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