Abstract

In what ways is cyberspace changing national security paradigms for governments negotiating changing strategic environments and technical advancements? The conceptual shift of security in the digital age is examined in this study, with special attention to Pakistan, a nation that is becoming more linked to the global information environment. The study, which is based on the framework of digital deterrence, looks at how information warfare, data flows, and cyber power are changing the fundamentals of statecraft, strategic stability, and sovereignty. Cyberspace is not a peripheral issue but rather a key area of national power where influence is established by controlling networks, narratives, and digital infrastructures rather than by annexing new territory. The experience of Pakistan provides important insights into how developing nations adjust to these shifts, striking a balance between autonomy, resilience, and deterrence in a setting characterized by both opportunity and risk. The study advances a better understanding of how the emergence of cyberspace is redefining the logic of national security in the twenty-first century.