Islamabad: Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the ongoing US-Iran conflict has come under scrutiny following reports that Iranian military aircraft were allowed to use Pakistani airbases to avoid potential American airstrikes.
According to a report by CBS News, citing unnamed US officials, Iran allegedly parked multiple military aircraft, including a reconnaissance and intelligence aircraft, at Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire pause in April.
The report has triggered political reactions in the United States, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham demanding a reassessment of Pakistan’s credibility as a mediator in negotiations involving Iran and the United States.
Lindsey Graham questions Pakistan’s neutrality
Reacting to the report on social media platform X, Senator Graham said the allegations, if proven true, would significantly impact perceptions of Pakistan’s diplomatic role.
“If this reporting is accurate, it would require a complete reevaluation of the role Pakistan is playing as mediator between Iran, the United States and other parties,” Graham said.
He also referred to previous statements made by Pakistani defence officials regarding Israel, suggesting the claims would not be entirely surprising if verified.
The remarks add fresh geopolitical pressure on Islamabad at a time when it is attempting to project itself as a stabilising intermediary amid heightened tensions in West Asia.
Pakistan denies allegations
A senior Pakistani official rejected the claims linked to Nur Khan Airbase while speaking to CBS News.
The official reportedly argued that the airbase is located in a densely populated urban area and that hiding a large fleet of aircraft there would not be feasible.
“Nur Khan base is right in the heart of the city. A large fleet of aircraft parked there cannot be hidden from the public eye,” the official said.
Pakistan has not issued any detailed public statement beyond rejecting the allegations.
Iranian aircraft reportedly moved across region
The CBS report further claimed that Iran had also moved some civilian aircraft into neighbouring Afghanistan to protect them during the conflict period.
An Afghan civil aviation official reportedly told the network that an Iranian aircraft belonging to Mahan Air landed in Kabul shortly before the conflict escalated and remained there after Iranian airspace was shut.
The aircraft was later shifted to Herat airport near the Iranian border after Pakistan launched attacks on Afghanistan, according to Afghan officials quoted in the report.
Officials reportedly stated that the Mahan Air aircraft was the only Iranian plane present in Afghanistan during that period.
Conflict background and mediation efforts
The US-Iran conflict, which escalated on February 28, led to widespread concerns over regional stability, oil supply disruptions and broader military escalation in West Asia.
A temporary pause in hostilities was announced on April 8 following international diplomatic pressure and backchannel discussions involving multiple countries.
Pakistan has been attempting to position itself as a mediator in the crisis, maintaining diplomatic engagement with both Tehran and Washington.
However, the latest allegations could complicate Islamabad’s balancing act and raise fresh questions about its neutrality in the conflict.
Analysts believe any evidence supporting claims of military cooperation with Iran during the conflict could affect Pakistan’s diplomatic standing with the United States and its allies.
So far, neither the US administration nor Iranian authorities have officially confirmed the reported movement of aircraft to Pakistani or Afghan territory.
Strategic importance of Nur Khan Airbase
Nur Khan Airbase is considered one of Pakistan’s key military aviation facilities and has historically played an important logistical role for both military and government operations.
Located near Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the base is closely monitored due to its strategic importance.
The allegations involving the facility have therefore attracted significant international attention.
With tensions in the region still fragile, diplomatic observers say the controversy may further complicate ongoing efforts to maintain the ceasefire and restart formal negotiations between the United States and Iran.