Widespread panic erupted in the Pakistani cities of Lahore and Karachi on Thursday following a series of explosions linked to India’s ongoing Operation Sindoor, which aims to target terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
In Lahore, three loud explosions were reported early in the day on Walton Road, sending plumes of smoke into the sky and prompting mass evacuations as frightened residents fled their homes. Additional explosions were reported near Askari 5 and the Naval College area, with further blasts occurring in the Burki and Naseerabad districts, causing chaos and confusion among the populace.
In Karachi, a blast near Sharafi Goth in Malir was reportedly caused by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) strike that impacted a building deep within the city. Although local authorities have yet to confirm these details, videos and images circulating on social media depict rising smoke and civilians seeking shelter in response to the unfolding crisis.
Local media outlets like Samaa TV and MM News have cited eyewitness accounts and unverified footage, indicating multiple strike points across the cities. In response to the increasing threats, commercial flights at Lahore and Sialkot airports were suspended until noon, highlighting the deepening national security concerns.
These incidents unfold against the backdrop of India’s precision airstrikes launched under Operation Sindoor on May 7, a direct retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 Indian civilians. The ongoing operation has targeted known terror strongholds of groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), including significant hubs like Markaz Subhan Allah in Bahawalpur and Markaz Taiba in Muridke.
While India has officially confirmed strikes on nine key targets in PoJK and Punjab, unverified reports have emerged suggesting that Indian drones may have also targeted locations in Attock, Gujranwala, Chakwal, Rawalpindi, Mianwali, Chor, and Karachi.
As major urban centers in Pakistan face growing uncertainty, tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations continue to escalate. Pakistani authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the explosions, but social media reports from local journalists reveal civilians pouring onto the streets and emergency services struggling to keep up with the overwhelming demands for assistance.
The situation remains volatile, with global powers urging restraint and advocating for immediate diplomatic engagement to prevent a potentially wider regional conflict.
