Due to the increasing importance of cyberspace in today's world, countries have made cybersecurity a priority and developed skills to protect their critical infrastructure, digital assets and private data.
No immunity applies to India and Pakistan, two nuclear-armed neighbors with turbulent histories.
This study compares their cyber capabilities in depth and assesses the difficulties and related situations in Pakistan.
India has significantly enhanced its cyber capabilities over the past few years. The Indian government has invested heavily in research, education, and infrastructure related to cybersecurity. India's commitment to protecting its cyberspace is reflected in the creation of the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC), the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Center (NCIIPC).
The development of India's cyber capabilities has also received significant help from the private sector. Organizations such as Infosys, Wipro and Tata Consultancy Services have significantly improved the cyber security environment through research, development and consulting services. Moreover, with more than 100,000 people working in the industry, India has a large talent pool of cybersecurity experts.
Pakistan's cyber capabilities, on the other hand, are still in the early stages of development. The National Cyber Security Center (NCCS) and Computer Emergency Response Team (PK-CERT) are just two recent national achievements. However, India's spending on cyber defense dwarfs these efforts.
Pakistan's private sector also lags behind its Indian counterparts as few companies are actively engaged in cybersecurity R&D. The country has fewer cybersecurity experts than it should, and a lack of strong cyber defenses leaves its digital assets vulnerable to intrusion.
India has been investing in the creation of offensive cyber tools and methods, which has led to a steady increase in its cyber warfare capabilities. The country is alleged to be involved in cyber espionage against its rivals, especially Pakistan. The Indian government's emphasis on strengthening its cyber warfare and information-gathering capabilities has alarmed Pakistan and other neighboring countries.
Although Pakistan is also accused of carrying out cyber attacks against India, experts believe that Pakistan is not as advanced as India in this regard. Pakistani cyberattacks have mainly targeted India's critical infrastructure, military networks and government websites. However, due to the lack of highly developed cyber capabilities, Pakistani cyber attacks have had very limited impact.
Pakistan faces a huge problem due to the widening gap in cyber capabilities between India and Pakistan. As India's cyber defenses become more advanced, it will be difficult for Pakistan to protect its digital assets and launch effective cyber offensives against its neighbors.
Pakistan's poor cybersecurity framework also has economic repercussions. Cyber-attacks continue to pose a risk to the country's digital economy, which is critical to the country's growth and development. Cyber attacks have the potential to cause economic losses, damage to critical infrastructure and loss of confidence in digital services, all of which could hinder Pakistan's economic development.
Due to Pakistan's lack of cyber capabilities, national security is at risk as cyber warfare plays a larger role in contemporary conflicts. If cyber attacks on its critical infrastructure, military systems, or government systems are successful, the stability and security of Pakistan may be greatly affected.
Slow and diffuse action was taken in response to rising cyber threats. Governments must prioritize cybersecurity and develop a well-thought-out national plan to deal with its difficulties. Pakistan may take the following actions to close the gap and improve its cyber capabilities:
To successfully deal with the cyber problems it faces, Pakistan must strengthen its existing cyber institutions and create new ones. Improving the capabilities of NCCS and PK-CERT and developing a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy should be top priorities.
Pakistan must invest in building a security infrastructure that can withstand cyber attacks. This involves allocating R&D funding, promoting public-private partnerships, and encouraging innovation in cybersecurity.
Addressing the shortage of qualified cybersecurity personnel is critical to Pakistan's cyber defense. To develop a workforce capable of responding to new cyber dangers, the nation must invest in cybersecurity education and training programs.
To improve its cyber capabilities, Pakistan should actively seek foreign partnerships and cooperation. By collaborating with international partners, nations can gain access to cutting-edge technologies, exchange best practices, and develop effective cyber strategies.
Against the backdrop of rivalry between India and Pakistan, it is crucial for both countries to take confidence-boosting actions and set standards of conduct online. This could include a pledge not to attack critical infrastructure and cooperation to combat online threats. Such actions could increase confidence between the two countries while reducing the likelihood of network upgrades.
A worrying scenario for Pakistan can be seen by comparing the cyber capabilities of India and Pakistan. Given the widening gap in cyber capabilities and the implications for the economy and national security, Pakistan must take immediate steps to address its cyber vulnerabilities.
Pakistan can address the complex cyber environment and defend its interests in cyberspace by strengthening institutions, investing in infrastructure and research, expanding cybersecurity education, seeking international cooperation, and taking confidence-boosting measures with India.