KATHMANDU: Pakistan has come under increasing scrutiny after officially acknowledging that Iranian aircraft are currently stationed at a Pakistani airbase following recent tensions between Iran and the United States.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan denied reports suggesting Islamabad had allowed Tehran to use its military airbases during the conflict. However, the statement confirmed that Iranian aircraft were present at Nur Khan Airbase.
“The Iranian aircraft currently parked in Pakistan arrived during the ceasefire period and bears no linkage whatsoever to any military contingency or preservation arrangement,” the ministry stated.
The clarification came after reports by CBS News cited two US officials claiming Pakistan had quietly permitted Iranian military aircraft to use its airfields during the conflict, potentially shielding them from possible American airstrikes.
According to the report, Iran sent several aircraft to Nur Khan Airbase days after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Tehran earlier this year.
Among the aircraft reportedly present was an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane, a surveillance and intelligence-gathering variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said aircraft from both Iran and the United States had arrived in Pakistan to facilitate diplomatic personnel, security teams and administrative staff involved in talks related to the conflict.
“Some aircraft and support personnel remained temporarily in Pakistan in anticipation of subsequent rounds of engagement,” the statement added.
The development has fueled criticism in Washington over Pakistan’s role as a mediator between Tehran and Washington.
US Senator Lindsey Graham called for a “complete reevaluation” of Pakistan’s mediation role and expressed concerns over Islamabad’s balancing strategy between Iran and the United States.
Reports by CNN also suggested that some officials within the Trump administration have questioned whether Pakistan accurately conveyed Washington’s position to Tehran during diplomatic exchanges.
The controversy has intensified debate over Pakistan’s diplomatic posture, with critics arguing that Islamabad risks appearing less like a neutral mediator and more like a strategic supporter of Tehran during the conflict.
Comment