ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday declined to confirm or deny reports of a possible hypersonic ballistic missile test in Balochistan, suggesting that such security-related questions should not be raised in public.
“Now don’t ask all these questions. Ask such things in private,” Asif remarked during an interview on Samaa TV’s programme Mere Sawal, when questioned about speculation surrounding the alleged test.
The query followed widespread curiosity sparked by a rare lenticular cloud formation seen over Quetta early Tuesday morning, which led to social media speculation linking the unusual sight to a potential missile launch. Many residents in the region reported seeing the formation around dawn, prompting online debate and conjecture about its cause.
Rare Lenticular Cloud Formation Over Quetta
A lenticular cloud formation was observed in the early morning of Oct 28, 2025, over Koh e Murdaar – eastern range of Quetta city. The cloud appeared before sunrise, persisted for approx. 20 minutes, and dissipated just prior to sunrise pic.twitter.com/ovtvjXM3oy— Pak Met Department محکمہ موسمیات (@pmdgov) October 28, 2025
Earlier in the week, Asif had dismissed the online chatter, terming it “speculative” and insisting that no such test had been confirmed by the government.
In response to the growing discussion, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) later clarified that the phenomenon was purely meteorological in nature. In a post on X, the PMD described it as a “lenticular cloud formation” that appeared before sunrise over the Koh-i-Murdar range near Quetta, lasting for about 20 minutes before dissipating.
Lenticular clouds, according to the UK Met Office, are lens-shaped formations that occur when stable air flows over mountains or hills at various atmospheric levels, creating distinctive, saucer-like shapes. These clouds, which often appear motionless despite strong winds, have frequently been mistaken for UFOs in different parts of the world.
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The phenomenon’s timing and appearance, however, coinciding with rumours of a secret missile test, led to widespread speculation online. Authorities have not issued any official statement confirming or denying a defence-related event in the area.
While Asif’s remarks did little to dispel the speculation, they reinforced the government’s preference for discretion on sensitive national security matters.
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