In the early hours between Tuesday and Wednesday, powerful explosions rocked several cities across Pakistan, triggering panic and fear among residents. In Punjab’s Bahawalpur district, a series of four loud blasts were heard, reportedly strong enough to be felt miles away. Eyewitnesses said the explosions were followed by a widespread power outage and an unusual surge in the movement of security forces.
Simultaneously, explosions were also reported in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Local sources described flashes in the sky and thick plumes of smoke, while police officials scrambled to locate the exact sites of the blasts.
The attacks coincided with an official announcement from the Indian Armed Forces, declaring the launch of “Operation Sindoor.” According to India’s Ministry of Defence, the operation targeted nine separate locations in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir, which were allegedly being used as command and planning centers for cross-border terrorist activities.
In Faisalabad, residents also reported hearing fighter jets overhead, prompting many to flee their homes in fear.
These strikes come amid already heightened tensions in the region. The targeting of sensitive zones such as Bahawalpur — home to significant Pakistani military installations, is being widely viewed as an escalatory move with potentially serious consequences.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, acknowledged the explosions, confirming that blasts were heard in Muzaffarabad, Bahawalpur, and several other locations.
According to the ISPR spokesperson, the airstrikes occurred near the Line of Control (LoC), though no casualties or material damage have been officially reported so far.
