A powerful explosion echoed through parts of Lahore, Pakistan, early Thursday morning, sending shockwaves through the city just one day after India launched airstrikes in what it called a “targeted counter-terror operation” within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The blast, reported by local broadcaster Geo TV and corroborated by a Reuters witness, occurred in the vicinity of Walton Road, near the Walton Airport, and was distinctly heard across neighborhoods such as Gopal Nagar and Naseerabad. Residents in the affected areas described scenes of confusion and panic as emergency sirens blared and people rushed out of their homes in fear, unsure of what had just transpired.

In the immediate aftermath, flight operations at Lahore, as well as Karachi and Sialkot airports, were temporarily suspended, though Pakistani authorities have not yet confirmed if the disruption in air traffic was directly linked to the explosion. This incident unfolds against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, the Indian military’s response to a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 Indian lives. According to Indian officials, the operation specifically targeted nine terror camps and was conducted with “precision and restraint,” avoiding damage to civilian, economic, or conventional military infrastructure.

Pakistan, however, sharply contested this narrative, asserting that the airstrikes hit civilian areas, including religious institutions, and resulted in at least 31 deaths. As regional tensions escalate, Pakistani authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine the origin and cause of the Lahore blast, exploring possible connections to the broader military confrontation. With both nuclear-armed neighbors now on high alert, the incident has drawn global attention, prompting calls from international stakeholders urging both sides to exercise maximum restraint and prioritize diplomatic engagement to avert further escalation.