Pakistan rejects claims of Iranian aircraft deployment for protection against US strikes

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Pakistan has categorically denied reports that it allowed Iranian military aircraft to park on its airfields to protect them from potential US strikes, describing the claims as "misleading and sensationalised."

The denial, issued by Pakistan's Foreign Office on Tuesday, came in response to a CBS News report that cited US officials and said Tehran had transferred aircraft to Pakistan's Nur Khan Air Base south of Islamabad. The Iranian aircraft, including an RC-130 reconnaissance plane, allegedly arrived in early April after President Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran.

Coverage Comparison

Reports of the denial were carried by multiple outlets, including Dawn, Pakistan's leading English-language daily, and Russia's state news agency TASS. Both sources quoted the Foreign Office's statement rejecting the CBS News story, though their framing differed slightly: Dawn emphasized Pakistan's characterization of the report as "sensationalised," while TASS focused on the ministry's description of the reports as "misleading and embellished."

Earlier, TASS had also reported the CBS News claims themselves, without the Pakistani denial, noting that Iran may have relocated military and civilian aircraft to both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Key Claims

• Pakistan's denial: The Foreign Office said the CBS News report regarding the presence of Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase is "misleading and sensationalised." This was reported by both Dawn and TASS.
• Reason for aircraft presence: According to the Foreign Office, aircraft from Iran and the US arrived in Pakistan after the ceasefire to "facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams and administrative staff" during the Islamabad Talks. Some remained temporarily for subsequent rounds of engagement.
• No military link: The Foreign Office emphasized that the Iranian aircraft "bear no linkage whatsoever to any military contingency or preservation arrangement," and claims otherwise are "speculative, misleading, and entirely detached from the factual context."
• CBS News report: Citing US officials and sources, CBS News reported that Iran transferred military and civilian aircraft to Pakistan and Afghanistan to protect them from potential US strikes. The report claimed Iranian aircraft were stationed at Nur Khan Air Base, and that Iran's Mahan Air had deployed aircraft to Kabul, later moving them to Herat.
• Taliban denial: Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the information about Iranian aircraft being transferred to Afghanistan, according to CBS News.

Perspectives

Pakistani government stance: The Foreign Office maintains that Pakistan has consistently acted as an impartial mediator in support of dialogue and de-escalation, providing logistical support while maintaining transparency. It suggests that speculative narratives are aimed at undermining regional stability.

CBS News report: Based on US official sources, the report alleges that Pakistan quietly allowed Iranian aircraft to use its bases, implying a potential military arrangement that contradicts Pakistan's stated neutrality.

Regional implications: The differing accounts reflect broader tensions in the region, as Pakistan seeks to balance its role as a mediator between the US and Iran while managing its own security concerns. The CBS report, if accurate, would raise questions about Pakistan's impartiality, but the Pakistani denial seeks to reaffirm its position.