Pakistan rejects claims alleging Iran parked military aircraft at its airbase

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has rejected a CBS News report alleging that Iran parked military aircraft at a Pakistani airbase despite Islamabad’s role as a mediator in tensions between Tehran and Washington, calling the claims “misleading and sensationalized.”

In a statement, the ministry said, “Pakistan categorically rejects the CBS News report regarding the presence of Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase as misleading and sensationalized. Such speculative narratives appear aimed at undermining ongoing efforts for regional stability and peace," Caliber.Az reports. 

The statement came in response to a CBS News report citing unnamed U.S. officials who claimed that, days after President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran in early April, Tehran sent multiple aircraft to Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan near Rawalpindi. According to the report, one of the aircraft was allegedly an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane.

CBS News also reported that Iran had sent civilian aircraft to neighbouring Afghanistan, although it remained unclear whether military aircraft were included among those flights.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the aircraft currently in the country were linked to diplomatic efforts surrounding the ceasefire talks and had no connection to military operations.

“Following the ceasefire and during the initial round of the Islamabad Talks, a number of aircraft from Iran and the United States arrived in Pakistan to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams, and administrative staff associated with the talks process,” the ministry stated.

“Some aircraft and support personnel remained temporarily in Pakistan in anticipation of subsequent rounds of engagement,” it added.

According to Islamabad, the logistical arrangements also facilitated visits by Iran’s foreign minister amid continuing diplomatic contacts.

“Although formal negotiations have not yet resumed, senior-level diplomatic exchanges have continued. In this context, visits by the Iranian Foreign Minister to Islamabad were facilitated through the existing logistical and administrative arrangements,” the statement said.

The ministry further stressed that the Iranian aircraft “bear no linkage whatsoever to any military contingency or preservation arrangement.”

“Assertions suggesting otherwise are speculative, misleading, and entirely detached from the factual context,” it added.

Pakistan also reiterated its role as a neutral facilitator in regional diplomacy.

“Pakistan has consistently acted as an impartial, constructive, and responsible facilitator in support of dialogue and de-escalation,” the ministry said. “Pakistan remains committed to supporting all sincere efforts aimed at promoting dialogue, reducing tensions, and advancing regional and global peace, stability, and security.”

By Sabina Mammadli