ISLAMABAD: On Tuesday, news circulated on social media that Pakistan had tested a hypersonic missile over Balochistan’s Harnai district, which was being hailed as a major breakthrough in the country’s defence capabilities.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), users shared pictures and videos of colourful clouds forming in the sky, claiming that they were the result of a hypersonic missile test.
However, there was no official confirmation from the Pakistan Army’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) regarding conducting of such a test.
Although the Pakistan Air Force has in the past mentioned the existence of hypersonic missile capability, which has been described as part of a wider plan to modernise its defence system, officials have clarified that today’s phenomenon is not related to any missile test.
According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), a rare “lenticular cloud” was observed forming over Koh Mardar, east of Quetta, this morning.
According to the department, the cloud appeared before sunrise, lasted for about 20 minutes, and then disappeared before sunrise.
The Meteorological Department said that such clouds are usually formed due to strong winds in mountainous areas and are often mistaken by people as unusual air or space activity.
Officials have appealed to the public to avoid speculation and rely only on official sources for accurate information regarding defense activities.
