In a high-level address at the Pakistan Naval War College (PNWC), Dr. Haider Abbas, Director General of the National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT), Government of Pakistan, delivered an insightful lecture titled “Cyber Warfare at the Operational Level of War.” The session was attended by senior officers and focused on the evolving dynamics of cyber warfare in the context of modern military strategy and national defense.
During the session, Dr. Abbas emphasized the growing significance of cyber capabilities as an indispensable force multiplier in contemporary and future military operations. He explained that cyber warfare today operates not only as a support mechanism to conventional forces but has also emerged as a decisive element in both kinetic and non-kinetic domains. His remarks highlighted the integration of cyber strategies into broader operational-level planning—a move that is essential in today’s digitally interconnected battlefields.
One of the key themes of Dr. Abbas’s address was the protection and resilience of command, control, communications, and critical infrastructure (C4I). These components form the backbone of military and strategic operations, and any compromise can lead to significant national security setbacks. According to Dr. Abbas, the operational success of a modern military force depends not only on its firepower but increasingly on its ability to protect digital assets and maintain real-time communication in a contested cyber environment.
The session also brought attention to the pivotal role that National CERTs play in active cyber defense, especially during periods of heightened geopolitical tension or armed conflict. Dr. Abbas shared insights into how National CERTs operate as frontline defenders—monitoring threats, coordinating responses, and facilitating inter-agency collaboration. In the Pakistani context, National CERT has been strengthening its ability to respond to large-scale cyber incidents, ensuring robust national cyber resilience through timely detection and coordinated mitigation.
“Cyber has become an essential component of modern warfare,” stated Dr. Haider Abbas. “Ensuring cyber resilience today requires cohesive and coordinated efforts across informational and cognitive dimensions.”
He underscored the necessity for joint initiatives between military institutions and national cyber agencies to maintain operational superiority and safeguard Pakistan’s cyber sovereignty. His remarks are especially relevant in a rapidly evolving threat landscape, where hybrid warfare and information operations are becoming more prominent in statecraft and defense postures.
This engagement at the PNWC aligns with National CERT’s broader mandate of capacity-building and strategic awareness. The talk also highlighted inter-service collaboration as a critical factor in enhancing the country’s preparedness to face emerging digital threats, ranging from sophisticated malware attacks to information warfare and infrastructure sabotage.
Dr. Abbas’s talk is part of an ongoing series of strategic dialogues initiated by the National CERT to elevate national cybersecurity awareness and integrate advanced cyber capabilities into Pakistan’s defense architecture. As global conflict increasingly extends into the digital realm, such discussions are vital to ensuring that Pakistan remains secure and competitive on all fronts of warfare—conventional, cyber, and cognitive.
The session concluded with a renewed call for cohesive policy, technological innovation, and continuous training to build a resilient digital defense ecosystem in the country.
Source: LinkedIn
