As tensions between India and Pakistan intensify in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, a Pakistan-based hacker group calling itself the Pakistan Cyber Force on Monday claimed responsibility for breaching multiple Indian defence websites, reportedly compromising sensitive information.
In a series of posts on X, the group asserted it had successfully infiltrated the digital infrastructure of key Indian defence entities, including the Military Engineering Services (MES), the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), and other institutions under the Ministry of Defence.
🚨 Pakistani Hackers Target Indian Defence Websites Cybersecurity experts and agencies are actively monitoring cyberspace to detect any Cyber Attack.
According to defence sources, Pakistan Cyber Force has claimed that the group has allegedly gained access to sensitive data from… pic.twitter.com/YsHqQyLOfo
— The UnderLine (@TheUnderLineIN) May 5, 2025
The group claimed to have accessed confidential data, including login credentials of defence personnel, and posted screenshots suggesting that they had defaced pages of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL)—a Defence Public Sector Undertaking. One such image allegedly showed an Indian tank replaced with a Pakistani tank, with the caption:
“Your armoured factory is now owned by Pakistan, courtesy Pakistan Cyber Force.”
Following the breach, AVNL’s website has reportedly been taken offline as part of a security audit to determine the extent of the cyberattack and potential data compromise.
In another post, the group claimed:
“Hacked. Your security is an illusion. MES data owned.”
They further alleged they had obtained 10 GB of sensitive user data from the MP-IDSA website, affecting more than 1,600 users.
While the authenticity and scale of the breach are still under independent verification, Indian cybersecurity agencies have mobilised teams to assess the situation and reinforce critical digital infrastructure. A high-level review is underway to identify vulnerabilities and implement enhanced protective measures.
Meanwhile, in a separate but related development, intelligence alerts have prompted a security escalation in Jammu-based prisons, following inputs suggesting a potential armed attempt to free incarcerated gangsters. Authorities are on high alert amid fears that the cyber intrusions and physical threats could be part of a coordinated campaign to destabilise Indian internal security.
(Reports gleaned from various news outlets)
