To mark Defence Day 2021 with a forward-looking perspective, CSOP organized Pakistan’s first-ever Cyber Defence Exercise. Recognizing that modern warfare extends beyond physical boundaries into digital domains, the initiative highlighted the nation’s commitment to strengthening preparedness against cyber threats and 5th Generation Hybrid War.

Purpose of the Event

The Cyber Defence Exercise was designed to:

• Strengthen national awareness of modern cyber defence requirements

• Train youth to counter digital espionage, misinformation, and cyber-attacks

• Demonstrate how citizens, especially youth, can contribute to securing Pakistan’s cyberspace

• Honor Defence Day by highlighting new-age defence needs in the cyber domain

The initiative underscored that defending Pakistan today requires vigilance not only at physical borders but across digital frontiers.

Event Activities

Cyber Scouts actively participated in hands-on cyber defence drills, including:

• Identifying cyber intrusion attempts

• Practicing incident detection and response

• Responding to phishing and malware attack scenarios

• Learning structured cyber defence procedures

• Simulating techniques used by adversaries in hybrid warfare strategies

These exercises provided participants with real-world insights into how cyber-attacks are deployed as tools of modern warfare.

Expert Insight: Cyber Warfare & 5th Generation Hybrid War

Cyber Security Expert Muhammad Asad Ul Rehman delivered a detailed briefing on cyber warfare and hybrid war tactics, emphasizing:

• Cyber-attacks, misinformation campaigns, and digital manipulation

• Strategic use of data breaches by hostile entities

• The evolving role of cyber readiness in national security

Significance of the Event

The Defence Day Cyber Defence Exercise carried critical national importance by:

• Building awareness that Pakistan’s security includes cyberspace protection

• Demonstrating the nation’s resolve to counter digital threats from hostile actors

• Empowering Cyber Scouts to join the digital defence ecosystem

• Highlighting Pakistan’s adaptation to emerging realities of information and hybrid warfare

The exercise sent a clear and symbolic message:

                           “Pakistan is aware, alert, and actively preparing its youth to defend the nation in the era of cyber and hybrid warfare”