In a recent cyber security advisory, the Pakistan government has warned all IT and financial institutions, including regulators, to avoid using “Indian origin” AI/ICT products due to the potential for concealed threats to the country’s critical information infrastructure (CII).
The government cited two primary reasons for the warning:
The possibility of backdoors or malware in Indian products that could be used to collect sensitive data, and the direct Indian ingress into Pakistan’s CII through technical means and access control.
The warning comes in the wake of several high-profile cyber attacks on Pakistan in recent years, including one in 2020 that targeted the devices of government and military officials.
The government has also advised all federal and provincial ministries to consult with the Pakistan Software House Association (P@SHA) to find Pakistani technical companies that can provide suitable and economical alternatives to Indian products.
The warning is a significant development in the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India. It also highlights the growing importance of cyber security as countries increasingly rely on AI and ICT technologies.