Pakistan rejects 'misleading report' on Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday strongly rejected a report by US-based media outlet CBS News alleging the presence of Iranian military aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase, calling the claims “misleading and sensationalised” and warning that such narratives could undermine efforts aimed at regional peace and stability.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) clarified that several aircraft from Iran and the United States had arrived in Pakistan following the ceasefire and during the initial round of the Islamabad Talks to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams and administrative staff linked to the dialogue process.

“Some aircraft and support personnel remained temporarily in Pakistan in anticipation of subsequent rounds of engagement,” the ministry stated.

The FO said that while formal negotiations had not yet resumed, high-level diplomatic exchanges were continuing. It added that visits by the Iranian foreign minister to Islamabad were facilitated under existing logistical and administrative arrangements.

“The Iranian aircraft currently parked in Pakistan arrived during the ceasefire period and bears no connection whatsoever to any military contingency or preservation arrangement,” the statement said.

The ministry described suggestions to the contrary as “speculative, misleading, and entirely detached from the factual context.”

Pakistan, the FO maintained, had continued to act as an “impartial, constructive, and responsible facilitator” in support of dialogue and de-escalation in the region. It added that the country had extended only routine logistical and administrative support where required while maintaining transparency and communication with all relevant parties.

“Pakistan remains committed to supporting all sincere efforts aimed at promoting dialogue, reducing tensions, and advancing regional and global peace, stability, and security,” the ministry added.

The clarification came after a CBS News report published on Monday claimed that Pakistan had quietly allowed Iranian military aircraft to remain at its airbases, potentially shielding them from possible American strikes, despite publicly presenting itself as a diplomatic intermediary between Tehran and Washington.

Separately, posts circulating on X alleged that multiple Iranian aircraft, including a reconnaissance variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, had been stationed at Nur Khan Airbase after last month’s ceasefire announcement.