Key point: A circular cloud over eastern Quetta on October 28 was a rare lenticular formation, not a Pakistani missile launch. The Pakistan Meteorological Department posted photos showing the phenomenon appeared before sunrise, lasted about 20 minutes and then dissipated. No official missile tests were reported in October; the last publicized test was the Fatah‑4 cruise missile on Sept. 30. Atmospheric experts say the shape and features match lenticular clouds, which are often mistaken for UFOs.
Not a Missile: Rare Lenticular Cloud over Quetta, Not a Pakistani Weapons Test
Key point: A circular cloud over eastern Quetta on October 28 was a rare lenticular formation, not a Pakistani missile launch. The Pakistan Meteorological Department posted photos showing the phenomenon appeared before sunrise, lasted about 20 minutes and then dissipated. No official missile tests were reported in October; the last publicized test was the Fatah‑4 cruise missile on Sept. 30. Atmospheric experts say the shape and features match lenticular clouds, which are often mistaken for UFOs.
08:07 PM, 11/20/2025Security
Images and short videos shared widely on social media in late October and early November claimed that Pakistan had launched a long‑range or hypersonic missile. Official meteorological evidence and expert analysis, however, indicate the visuals show a rare lenticular cloud observed over eastern Quetta on October 28 — not a weapons test.
What was seen
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) posted three photos of a circular, lens‑shaped cloud captured in the pre‑dawn sky over eastern Quetta on October 28. According to the PMD, the formation appeared before sunrise, lingered for roughly 20 minutes, and dissipated shortly before sunrise.
Why the social posts were misleading
Postings on Facebook, X, Threads and TikTok paired the visuals with claims of a missile or hypersonic weapon launch. There are no official records indicating any missile tests in October; the most recently publicized launch was a training firing of the domestically described Fatah‑4 ground‑launched cruise missile on September 30.
Expert analysis
Chen Jen‑ping, an atmospheric scientist at National Taiwan University, reviewed the photos and said the main structure resembles a classic lenticular cloud. He noted that the bright, wavy streaks beneath the circular mass could be the edges of another lenticular layer or condensation trails from a fast aircraft, while adding that in a less common scenario they might originate from a malfunctioning rocket or missile. Taken together with the PMD’s timing and observational details, the simplest explanation is a meteorological phenomenon rather than a weapons test.
How lenticular clouds form
Lenticular clouds form when stable air flows over hills or mountains, creating standing waves in the atmosphere. When moisture condenses at the crest of those waves, it can produce smooth, lens‑shaped clouds that often resemble flying saucers. The scientific name altocumulus lenticularis literally means "like a lens." Such distinctive shapes are a common source of UFO reports around the world.
Conclusion
Photo evidence accompanied by the PMD’s account and independent atmospheric commentary supports the conclusion that the October 28 images show a lenticular cloud over Quetta, not a missile launch. While social media amplified dramatic claims, no official or corroborated reports of a weapons test match the timing or location of the cloud images.
Sources: Pakistan Meteorological Department; Chen Jen‑ping (National Taiwan University); publicly available records of reported missile tests.