Hijack on the Airwaves: Pakistan’s Prime TV Channels Breached in Anti-Military Cyber Blitz

It was just after sunset on the first Sunday of March 2026 when millions of Pakistanis, settling in for their nightly news, were met with something no one expected: their favorite channels - Geo News, ARY News, Samaa TV - suddenly hijacked, their regular programming replaced by bold, unauthorized messages attacking the country’s powerful military. As confusion rippled from living rooms to newsrooms, the breach set off a chain reaction that would reverberate far beyond Pakistan’s borders.

The Night the News Changed

According to eyewitness accounts and viral clips circulating online, the attack began shortly after Iftar, when families typically gather around their televisions. Instead of trusted anchors, viewers saw scathing text overlays blaming the military for the nation’s woes, urging citizens to “stand up” against the institution. The messages were direct, inflammatory, and unmistakably political.

Geo News, one of the country’s most prominent broadcasters, released a public statement explaining their satellite transmissions via PAKSAT had been under siege for 24 hours before the hackers finally broke through. The channel emphasized that the unauthorized content had no connection to its editorial policy and called on authorities to act swiftly.

Inside the Attack: Technical and Political Dimensions

Experts believe the perpetrators exploited vulnerabilities in satellite uplinks and live feed infrastructure - a sophisticated move requiring deep technical know-how. Initial rumors pointed fingers at Afghan hackers, but the scale and coordination suggested a broader operation, possibly involving multiple actors.

Within hours, the cyber battlefield expanded. Pakistani hacking group “Pakistan Cyber Force” allegedly retaliated by breaching India’s ABP News and a government food website, even broadcasting speeches from the Pakistani Army Chief on hijacked feeds. Meanwhile, the original attackers reportedly ran unauthorized Google ad campaigns across 19 countries, hinting at a campaign with both political and financial motives.

Despite the drama, official silence prevailed. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and PEMRA, the media regulator, issued no immediate statements, fueling speculation and anxiety across the media landscape. Security teams are now racing to identify the attackers and plug the gaps that allowed such a dramatic intrusion.

Aftershocks and Lessons

The incident has rattled Pakistan’s media industry and exposed the fragility of broadcast infrastructure in an era of digital warfare. The hack wasn’t just a technical breach - it was a direct assault on public trust, timed for maximum psychological impact. As authorities probe the attack, broadcasters and regulators alike are being forced to confront the uncomfortable reality: in today’s interconnected world, the frontlines of conflict are as likely to run through cyberspace as through any border.

WIKICROOK

• Satellite Uplink: A satellite uplink sends signals from a ground station to a satellite, enabling global communication but requiring strong security to prevent cyber threats.
• DDoS Attack: A DDoS attack is when many computers flood a service with fake requests, overwhelming it and making it slow or unavailable to real users.
• Live Feed: A live feed is a real-time broadcast of data, video, or audio from its source, allowing instant monitoring and faster cybersecurity responses.
• Broadcast Interruption: Broadcast interruption is when unauthorized parties halt or alter scheduled TV or radio programs, often to spread misinformation or disrupt communication.
• Cyber Propaganda: Cyber propaganda is the online spread of misleading or false information to influence opinions, often using social media, bots, or fake news sites.