Loud Explosion Reported in Lahore a Day After India’s Operation Sindoor

A loud explosion shook parts of Lahore early Thursday morning, sparking panic among residents just a day after India launched military strikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The cause of the blast is still unknown.

According to Geo TV and a Reuters reporter in the city, the explosion was heard in the Gopal Nagar and Naseerabad areas, near Walton Airport. Locals described scenes of confusion and fear, with sirens blaring and people rushing out of their homes.

Shortly after, flight operations at airports in Lahore, Karachi, and Sialkot were suspended. Authorities haven’t confirmed whether the airport closures were directly linked to the explosion.

The Backdrop: India’s Operation Sindoor

Following India’s military action, Operation Sindoor, on Wednesday, the incident comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. In a statement, India said it carried out “precise and restrained” strikes on nine terror camps in response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians mostly Hindus were killed.

India claims the groups behind the attack were based in Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government vowed a strong response, and Operation Sindoor was carried out as what officials called a “non-escalatory” measure. The Indian government emphasized that no civilian areas or military infrastructure were targeted in the strikes.

Growing Tensions and Fallout

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the Indian strikes as a “cowardly attack” and warned that Pakistan would respond “in a befitting manner.”

“The enemy won’t be allowed to achieve its goals,” he said in a televised statement.

Meanwhile, the escalating conflict between the two countries is already being felt in the borders. Pakistan International Airlines also confirmed, as a precautionary move, the airspace closures were implemented.

As tensions rise and uncertainty looms, the border residents on both sides are left hoping that the situation doesn’t spiral further out of control.