Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following reported explosions in Karachi on Thursday, May 8, 2025. This comes shortly after reports of three blasts near a military establishment in Lahore. The incidents occur amidst a backdrop of heightened tensions, sparked by India's recent strikes on what it claims were terrorist infrastructure within Pakistan.
Pakistani media reported an explosion near Sharafi Goth in Karachi. This follows a reported explosion in Lahore. The Pakistan Airports Authority has temporarily suspended flight operations at airports in Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot. While initial reports suggested the suspensions were linked to the Lahore explosion, the specific reasons and the duration of the suspension for Karachi airport remain unclear.
India launched "Operation Sindoor," which it described as a "measured" and "non-escalatory" response targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This operation was triggered by the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists. India has blamed Pakistan-based terrorist groups for the attack, a charge Pakistan denies.
According to the Indian Defence Ministry, "Operation Sindoor" was a tri-service mission aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure, with intentions to avoid Pakistani military assets. The operation targeted training camps of groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. India's Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, stated that the Pahalgam attack exposed Pakistan's links to terrorist groups, emphasizing that the attack was the most serious incident since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, particularly given that civilians were directly targeted.
Pakistan has strongly condemned India's actions, calling them a "blatant act of war" and a violation of its sovereignty. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to "avenge the blood of our innocent martyrs". Pakistan's military claims to have shot down several Indian drones and fighter jets. They further allege that Indian missiles struck civilian infrastructure, including mosques, resulting in casualties.
The escalating tensions have led to heavy exchanges of artillery fire along the Line of Control dividing Indian- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Both sides have accused each other of initiating the firing, resulting in casualties and damage to property.
International concern is mounting, with many countries calling for restraint and offering mediation to ease tensions. Iran's Foreign Minister has reiterated the call for restraint from both sides, emphasizing the region's need for peace. The already strained relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbors has reached a critical point, raising concerns about potential further escalation.
