A blast was reported near Walton Airport in Pakistan's Lahore on Thursday morning, May 8, 2025, according to broadcaster Geo TV and witnesses. This explosion comes just one day after the Indian Armed Forces launched coordinated precision strikes on multiple terrorist bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The blast reportedly sent residents fleeing from their homes in the Gopal Nagar and Naseerabad neighborhoods, as smoke was seen rising near the airport.
The cause of the explosion remains unclear, but police sources suggested that it might have been caused by a drone, which was reportedly shot down by jamming its system. Fortunately, no casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure have been reported so far.
The blasts occurred amidst heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, following India's military operation, dubbed Operation Sindoor, executed in the early hours of May 7. This mission targeted terrorist infrastructure associated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and was launched in response to the deadly Pahalgam massacre on April 22, where at least 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists, were killed.
The Indian Defence Ministry stated, “Our actions have been focused, measured and non-escalatory in nature. No Pakistani military facilities have been targeted,” emphasizing that their strikes were aimed solely at terrorist camps. The nine camps targeted included places like Sawai Nala Camp in Muzaffarabad and Markaz Taiba in Bahawalpur.
In retaliation, Pakistan's government has vowed to respond to the strikes. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif expressed to The New York Times that Pakistan is ready to de-escalate tensions, despite the federal government's commitment to respond to India's military actions. He stated, “We will avenge the blood of our innocent martyrs,” following reports of at least 31 Pakistani civilians killed and dozens more wounded in the aftermath of the Indian strikes.
As the situation escalated, Pakistan suspended all commercial flights at major airports in Lahore and Islamabad late Wednesday night, with the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announcing that the country’s airspace would remain closed until further notice. Meanwhile, the Karachi airport continued to operate, albeit with heightened security measures.
In India, the military conducted blackout drills in regions near the Pakistan border, including Amritsar, in anticipation of potential retaliatory actions. The Indian government has also reported that 13 of its civilians died and 43 were injured due to cross-border shelling that followed the strikes.
The ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan has been a point of contention since both nations gained independence from colonial rule in 1947. The two countries have fought three wars, with two of them primarily focused on the disputed Kashmir region. The current escalation in hostilities comes at a particularly precarious time for Pakistan, which is struggling to stabilize its $350 billion economy after a recent crisis that nearly led to a default on international debt obligations.
Global powers have urged both nations to calm the rising tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that the countries could resolve their differences, stating, “I will be there if I can help.”
As the situation remains fluid, many cities in Pakistan have begun to restore a semblance of normalcy, with children returning to school. However, in the border province of Punjab, hospitals and civil defense authorities remain on high alert, ready for any escalation of violence.
The blast in Lahore serves as a stark reminder of the fragile peace that exists between these two nuclear-armed neighbors, and the potential for further conflict looms large as both sides prepare for possible retaliation.
