ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Tuesday strongly rejected a report by US broadcaster CBS News that claimed Iranian military aircraft were stationed at the strategically important Nur Khan air base to protect them from possible US attacks, calling the story “misleading and sensational”.
In a detailed statement, the Foreign Ministry said the presence of Iranian aircraft in Pakistan was linked to diplomatic engagements and ongoing peace efforts between Tehran and Washington following the ceasefire announced earlier this year.
“Pakistan categorically rejects the CBS News report on the presence of Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan Air Base as misleading and sensationalist,” the foreign ministry spokesperson said.
The statement said that after the ceasefire and during the initial round of the ‘Islamabad Talks’, planes from both Iran and the United States arrived in Pakistan to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams and administrative staff involved in the negotiations process.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, some aircraft and support staff temporarily remained in Pakistan in anticipation of further rounds of engagement, although formal negotiations have not yet resumed.
The clarification came a day after CBS News, citing unnamed US officials, reported that Pakistan had quietly allowed Iranian military planes to park at Pakistani air bases despite presenting itself publicly as a diplomatic intermediary between Tehran and Washington.
The CBS report claimed that several Iranian aircraft, including an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane, were flown to Nur Khan Air Base near Rawalpindi shortly after President Trump announced a ceasefire in early April.
The report further alleges that the move was aimed at protecting Iranian aviation assets from potential US airstrikes during rising tensions in the Middle East.
Rejecting those claims, the Ministry of External Affairs maintained that the plane currently parked in Pakistan “has no link with any military contingency or preservation agreement”, adding: “Assertions suggesting otherwise are speculative, misleading and completely disconnected from the factual context.”
Islamabad also highlighted that Pakistan has acted as an “impartial, constructive and responsible facilitator” in efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Iran and the United States.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that despite the pause in formal negotiations, high-level diplomatic contacts had continued and the Iranian Foreign Minister’s recent visits to Islamabad were facilitated by existing logistical arrangements linked to the talks process.
Pakistan has played an increasingly visible mediating role in secondary diplomacy between Tehran and Washington since the outbreak of the recent US-Iran crisis. Last month, Islamabad hosted unprecedented high-level talks involving senior US and Iranian officials aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire and preventing further escalation in the region.
The CBS report, according to observers, appears to be aimed at undermining Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and constructive role in ending the war through mediation.
However, Pakistani officials insist that the country remains committed to supporting dialogue and de-escalation efforts. “Pakistan remains committed to supporting all sincere efforts aimed at promoting dialogue, reducing tensions and promoting regional and global peace, stability and security,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
