Blast Reported in Lahore Amid Rising India-Pakistan Tensions

A blast was reported in Lahore early Thursday, according to Geo TV and a Reuters on-ground correspondent. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following cross-border military action.

Unverified local accounts pointed to explosions near Walton Road and close to the Walton Airport vicinity. Pakistani authorities have launched an investigation into the source and nature of the reported blasts. As of now, no official confirmation has been released, and independent verification of these claims remains pending.

The reported explosion comes one day after India launched coordinated attacks on suspected terror camps at multiple locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes, carried out under "Operation Sindoor," followed an April assault in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

Security analysts say the developments have intensified concerns of a potential military flare-up between the nuclear-armed nations. Both countries have previously engaged in escalatory exchanges, and diplomatic efforts are underway to contain further fallout.

Casualty figures reported since the strikes vary. Pakistani officials have claimed 31 civilian fatalities and around 50 injuries due to the Indian offensive and the shelling that followed. Indian authorities, meanwhile, reported 13 deaths and at least 43 injuries on their side.

Overnight, Indian officials reported a slight reduction in cross-border artillery fire. However, precautionary measures remain in place in border districts. Several regions, including Amritsar, conducted power outage drills to prepare for possible retaliation. The city is home to the Golden Temple, a significant religious site for the Sikh community.

In Pakistan, urban centers began returning to regular routines, with schools reopening in major cities. Despite the signs of normalcy, Punjab province — bordering India — kept hospitals and emergency response units on alert.

Pakistan’s government has publicly vowed to respond to India's military actions. However, in a statement to The New York Times, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif expressed willingness to pursue de-escalation.

India, on its part, has stated it would answer any retaliatory moves. In light of the tensions, international voices, including U.S. President Donald Trump, have urged both nations to exercise restraint. Trump remarked on Wednesday that he hoped New Delhi and Islamabad would resolve the crisis and offered to mediate if required.