Sources say Iranian and US planes arrived at the air base for diplomatic logistics related to the Islamabad talks.
Pakistani leaders welcome Iranian delegation for talks with the United States in Islamabad on Friday evening. Photo: Reuters
a report of CBS News Claiming that Pakistan allowed Iranian military planes to park at an air base to protect them from possible US attacks is “misleading” and based on a distorted interpretation of routine diplomatic logistics, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The clarification came after a post on
According to sources with knowledge of the diplomatic process, the temporary presence of a limited number of Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan air base was related to ongoing secondary diplomacy and administrative arrangements around the Islamabad talks between Tehran and Washington.
“The parking of some Iranian aircraft at the Nur Khan air base has been exaggerated by certain detractors of regional and global peace,” the sources said.
The officials explained that after the ceasefire and during the first round of Islamabad talks, several planes from both the United States and Iran arrived in Pakistan carrying diplomatic and security personnel. These aircraft remained parked at Nur Khan Air Base for logistical and administrative purposes.
The sources said some Iranian aircraft and personnel remained in Pakistan after the initial round of talks in anticipation of a second phase of negotiations.
“Although talks have not resumed directly, the Iranian Foreign Minister visited Islamabad twice after the first round, and the administrative and security arrangements already in place facilitated those visits,” the sources added.
They further revealed that US aircraft and security teams had also flown to Pakistan for expected follow-up engagements, although US personnel and aircraft were subsequently relocated to US regional bases after a few days.
The officials emphasized that Pakistan had acted as a neutral and impartial mediator throughout the process and had provided equal logistical and administrative support to both Tehran and Washington in an effort to promote regional peace.
“Pakistan has remained fully transparent with both sides and has always trusted both sides whenever any ambiguity arose,” the sources said, adding that Islamabad would continue to pursue the same policy in the future.
Rejecting suggestions that the Iranian planes were being protected from possible military action, the sources noted that the planes arrived during a ceasefire period and not amid active hostilities.
“The Iranian plane arrived in Pakistan during the ceasefire and no Iranian aircraft was attacked by the United States during that period, not even inside Iran,” the sources said. “Therefore, linking the parking of these aircraft with the preservation of airstrikes is completely unfounded.”
They added that certain sectors of the media are trying to sensationalize a routine diplomatic event. “Clearly, certain sectors want to push the region and the world towards another cycle of violence and have created a story out of nothing,” the sources maintained.
They reiterated that Pakistan remained committed to facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington and would continue to play a “constructive and active role” in seeking a negotiated solution in the interest of regional and global peace and security.
