India needs to build its own technology systems—everything from computers to the software we use every day—because relying on foreign-made tech could put the country at serious risk, according to experts.
Recently, a tragic event in Lebanon highlighted the dangers of technology in warfare. A coordinated attack using modified pagers resulted in the deaths of nine people and left over 2,800 injured, many of them seriously. The attack targeted Hezbollah, a powerful political and military organization in Lebanon. Shockingly, Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was also hurt in the attack.
Lebanese officials were quick to blame Israel for the explosions. Lebanese Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram described the attack as a deliberate terrorist act, accusing Israel of trying to intimidate civilians after failing in traditional military confrontations. Hezbollah also released a statement pointing the finger at Israel, holding it fully responsible for the attacks. Experts believe that this attack shows how warfare is evolving into something new, where advanced technology plays a bigger role than ever before.
Colonel Hunny Bakshi, a former officer of Indian Military Intelligence, commented on the situation and raised concerns about how countries like India could be at risk. Bakshi warned that India’s overreliance on foreign technology—both software and hardware—could have serious consequences for national security. He compared today’s rapid technological changes to the Industrial Revolution, explaining that what once took decades now happens in just a few years.
He emphasized how important it is to control the electromagnetic spectrum—essentially, all the ways we communicate and transmit information. In future wars, whoever controls this spectrum will hold the advantage. Bakshi pointed out that while we can encrypt our data and put up firewalls, if someone cuts off our internet access in the middle of a crisis, all those defenses would become useless. We’d be left scrambling with outdated methods, much like how wars were fought centuries ago.
Sanjiv Arora, a cybersecurity expert, added his insights, explaining that the pagers used in the Lebanon attack were not ordinary devices. They had been modified for the specific purpose of this attack, raising questions about how vulnerable everyday technology can become when customized. He warned that India’s heavy dependence on imported technology opens the door for foreign powers to exploit these systems. For example, a cyberattack in Mumbai once caused a major power outage that spread to Delhi, disrupting hospitals and leaving doctors without access to patient records for days.
Both experts agreed that India needs to create its own Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure, which includes everything from the internet we use to the operating systems on our computers. This would help prevent foreign countries from having control over India’s critical systems. Bakshi and Arora emphasized that India should be cautious about where it buys its technology and how much of it is customized. The more customized a product is, the greater the chance that errors or vulnerabilities could be exploited, they warned.
Arora suggested that India adopt a more thorough approach to monitoring its systems, making sure to catch any unusual behavior early. This would involve looking for even the smallest anomalies, rather than focusing only on obvious attacks or problems.
Experts believe that if India doesn’t take immediate steps to build its own tech infrastructure, it will remain vulnerable to cyber threats and foreign control. With the pace of technological change speeding up, the stakes are higher than ever before.
