‘Ask Such Things in Private,’ Says Khawaja Asif as Rumours Swirl Over Pakistan’s Alleged Hypersonic Missile Test

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday (October 31) chose not to address speculation that the country had secretly tested a hypersonic ballistic missile earlier in the week. During a conversation on Samaa TV’s talk show Mere Sawal, Asif declined to confirm or deny the reports, instead advising the host to avoid discussing such topics on air. “Now don’t ask all these questions. Ask such things in private,” Asif remarked when pressed on the matter.

Questions about a possible missile test had emerged after residents of Quetta and nearby regions in Balochistan observed an unusual “lenticular cloud formation” in the sky during the early hours of Tuesday (October 28). The cloud’s sharp, disk-like shape led to rampant online speculation, with several eyewitnesses sharing photos and videos suggesting either a military exercise or an unidentified flying object.

The Pakistani minister had already dismissed similar rumours earlier in the week, yet his avoidance of a clear answer during the television appearance has kept the debate alive.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department later offered a scientific explanation. In a post on X, it clarified that the sight was indeed a “lenticular cloud” forming over the Koh-i-Murdar mountain range near Quetta. The formation, it said, lingered for roughly 20 minutes before dissipating with sunrise.

According to the UK’s Met Office, lenticular clouds are rare atmospheric phenomena often confused with UFOs due to their smooth, saucer-like shapes. Such clouds typically appear when stable air moves over hills or mountains, creating standing waves condensation forms at the wave crests, producing the illusion of flying-saucer-shaped clouds. These distinctive formations, meteorologists note, have frequently fueled UFO myths across the world.