Cyber Security Norms in South Asia: A Case Study of Pakistan Cyber Space Security and Analysis

Abstract

A strong cyber security is very important for any state to flourish and to develop economically, politically and socially. It forms the intrinsic part of progress and development of any country. The unparalleled challenges in the global world make it difficult to detect cyber-attack techniques, posing serious threats to the states confidentiality, national security, stability and economy. The mysterious challenges to the global and domestic computer networks can play havoc with the function of the government or the private organization. Almost all countries of the world are devising policies, cybersecurity laws and confidence building measure (CBM) with each other to protect the critical infrastructure resources and to protect all sort of digital information from getting lost. Every country endeavors to protect its cyberspace. Pakistan is a developing country and lags way behind developed countries in the domain of cybersecurity. This adds to its security dilemma, since it is a major victim of cyber terrorism, cyber-attcaks 6 and cyberwarfare. Unfortunately it has no national policies to regulate and protect its information technology structure. There is no national cybersecurity strategy or governance framework to protect its national cybersecurity mechanism from cyber-attacks. The aim of this research work is to provide a framework for cybersecurity policies in Pakistan and suggest proper regulation at national level. In order to compare different cyber security strategies of various countries I have consulted international best practices. I have also analyzed cyber threat landscape of Pakistan and examined the existing cyberlaws to find out technical and legal loopholes. I have surveyed the steps taken for the capacity building of the cyber security at the national level. My research highlights the vulnerabilities of the cyber infrastructure of Pakistan. The main delivery of the research is to suggest cybersecurity strategy policy document that explain national cyber vision and propose a high level cybersecurity plan in the best possible way to prevent, identify the cyber threat and to respond quickly in the effective way to cyberspace incidents.