Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recently claimed in Parliament that Pakistani cyber operatives had disrupted Indian infrastructure during the tensions following Operation Sindoor. One of his most notable remarks was that hackers had turned off floodlights during an IPL 2025 match, calling it a success for Pakistan’s “cyber warriors.”
However, Asif did not provide any evidence to support his statement, and the claim has been widely questioned in India. Many analysts and social media users dismissed it as political rhetoric, pointing out Pakistan’s own struggles with nationwide power outages.
His comments came shortly after Operation Sindoor—a precision military strike by India on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation followed the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and was seen as a strong response by India.
Notably, one IPL 2025 match in Dharamsala did witness a brief floodlight disruption during the 11th over. Officials later clarified that the power cut was due to an air raid alert issued amid rising tensions, not a cyberattack. The game was briefly paused under safety protocols, and no external interference was reported.
Experts believe Asif’s comments may be aimed at shifting attention from Pakistan’s losses during the operation and projecting cyber capabilities. In contrast, Indian officials have responded with measured statements and focused on operational clarity.