The great wars of the past were fought with tanks, jets, and artillery. Wars today-and tomorrow-are fought in mute silence, on glowing screens, and invisible domains. Here, Pakistan is not an unknowing spectator to cyber security or insecurity, as a line or two of malicious code can kill the economy or incapacitate the command systems of a country. It is indeed a state that understands the stakes, acknowledges the existential dangers, and is diligently building a cyber shield capable of safeguarding sovereignty against the most elite of adversaries.

There is a distinction between a tale of catching up for Pakistan in cyber evolution and a tale of smart adaptation. Where countries boast about huge cyber budgets, Pakistan knows how to achieve the strategic effect with precise tools and asymmetric capabilities. In this region, the digital battlefield is as active as the Line of Control; hence, Pakistan’s resolve to defend its networks now, counter hostile narratives, and prepare for future cyber offensives is not just commendable but essential for its survival and rise as an emerging digital power in South Asia.

In recent years, with the explosion of cyberattacks on an international level — from financial scams to shutdowns of power grids — it became necessary for countries to rethink their overall strategy toward cyber warfare.

Cyber preparedness entered its national security agenda in Pakistan by the mid-2010s. This was not just about imitating superpower doctrine; rather, it was about being placed into a framework that matched Pakistan’s threat environment with its resource realities. The transition was away from pure defensive posturing toward developing offensive capabilities for use against imminent threats.

The approach was similar to the doctrine of “strategic depth” in terms of conventional warfare-but it was actually in cyberspace. Pakistan would include efficiency in the ability to operate in enemy networks, locate intelligence, and disrupt hostile systems, rather than perimeter defence.

Defensive cyber capabilities of Pakistan have transformed enormously over the last decade. There are secure, air-gapped military networks that prevent any remote infiltration; all sensitive data is secured by sophisticated firewalls and intrusion detection systems that are layered. Moreover, in real time, the Security Operations Centres (SOCs) can assure that any anomaly will be detected and neutralized before any major damage is caused.

To use an offensive metaphor, it is demonstrated that Pakistan is not only able to defend but also attack. It........

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