ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan on Tuesday strongly rejected a report by US channel CBS News claiming that Iranian military aircraft were stationed at the strategically important Nur Khan air base to protect them from possible US strikes, calling the story “misleading and sensationalist”.
In a detailed statement, the Foreign Ministry said the presence of Iranian aircraft in Pakistan was linked to ongoing diplomatic engagements and peace efforts between Tehran and Washington following the ceasefire announced earlier this year.
“Pakistan categorically rejects the CBS News report regarding the presence of Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan air base, calling it misleading and sensationalist,” the Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
The statement said that after the ceasefire and during the first round of the “Islamabad talks”, Iranian and American aircraft arrived in Pakistan to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams and administrative personnel involved in the negotiation process.
According to the Foreign Office, some aircraft and support personnel have remained in Pakistan temporarily in anticipation of further rounds of engagement, although formal negotiations have not yet resumed.
The clarification came a day after CBS News, citing unnamed U.S. officials, reported that Pakistan had quietly allowed Iranian military planes to park at Pakistani air bases, despite publicly portraying itself as a diplomatic intermediary between Tehran and Washington.
The CBS report claimed that several Iranian planes, including an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane, were moved 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 air assets from possible US airstrikes during heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Dismissing these claims, the Foreign Office maintained that the aircraft currently stationed in Pakistan “have no connection with any emergency or preservation military arrangement”, adding: “Claims suggesting otherwise are speculative, misleading and completely detached from the factual context.” »
Islamabad also stressed that Pakistan had acted as an “impartial, constructive and responsible facilitator” in efforts to reduce tensions between Iran and the United States.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that despite the pause in formal negotiations, high-level diplomatic contacts continued and the Iranian Foreign Minister’s recent visits to Islamabad were facilitated through existing logistical arrangements related to the talks process.
Pakistan has played an increasingly visible mediating role in the backdoor 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, observers say, appears aimed at undermining diplomatic efforts and Pakistan’s 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 advancing regional and global peace, stability and security,” the foreign ministry said.
