Exploring civilian minds and lives during the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict: a phenomenological study in Lahore, Pakistan

Objective This study aims to investigate the lived experiences of civilians in Lahore during the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict, focusing on psychological distress, social disruption, coping mechanisms and perceptions of national response and preparedness. Design The study employs an exploratory phenomenological approach. Setting The study has been conducted in Lahore, the capital city of Punjab, the largest by population province of Pakistan. Lahore was selected as a research site due to its historical, strategic and political significance in Indo-Pak conflicts. Participants Data were collected from 10 participants aged 18 or above years, who lived in Lahore between April and May 2025, and were willing to discuss personal, social or psychological experiences related to the conflict. In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted in Urdu, transcribed, and were thematically analysed using both manual and NVivo V.12 software-supported coding. Results Seven inter-related themes were identified. Participants reported intense anxiety, hypervigilance and insomnia driven by hybrid warfare tactics, including misinformation, drone sightings and media sensationalism. Social life was disrupted through withdrawal from public, religious and communal activities. Coping strategies included religious faith, family cohesion, humour and expressions of national solidarity. Notably, many participants experienced psychosomatic symptoms such as palpitations, gastrointestinal distress and stress-induced fever. A prominent finding was the absence of civilian preparedness guidance, which amplified fear and uncertainty during the escalation. Conclusion The conflicts, although short lived and geographical restrained, casts a long psychological and social on civilians, marked by fear, uncertainty, social disruption and dissatisfaction with institutional preparedness. While some coping and resilience were evident, the findings highlight the need to strengthen civilian-focused public health responses during periods of conflict escalation, including mental health awareness, media literacy and community-level support within Pakistan’s emergency response frameworks.