FO dismisses claims of sheltering Iranian aircraft

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday dismissed as misleading a report by US broadcaster CBS News that claimed Iranian military aircraft were stationed at Nur Khan Airbase to protect them from possible American strikes.

In a detailed statement, the Foreign Office said the report was “misleading and sensationalised” and rejected the suggestion that the aircraft had any connection to a military contingency. “Pakistan categorically rejects the CBS News report regarding the presence of Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase as misleading and sensationalised,” the Foreign Office spokesperson said.

According to the Foreign Office, the presence of Iranian aircraft in Pakistan was linked to diplomatic activity and peace efforts involving Tehran and Washington after a ceasefire announced earlier this year. Following the ceasefire, and during the initial round of the Islamabad Talks, aircraft from both Iran and the United States arrived in Pakistan to support the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams and administrative staff involved in the negotiations process.

The statement added that some aircraft and support personnel stayed in Pakistan temporarily in anticipation of further rounds of engagement, although formal negotiations have not yet resumed.

The clarification came after CBS News, citing unnamed US officials, reported that Pakistan had quietly permitted Iranian military aircraft to park at Pakistani airbases while publicly presenting itself as a diplomatic intermediary between Tehran and Washington. Several Iranian aircraft, including an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance aircraft, were moved to Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi shortly after President Trump announced a ceasefire in early April.

CBS further alleged that the move was intended to shield Iranian aviation assets from possible US airstrikes during a period of heightened tensions in the Middle East.

Rejecting that account, the Foreign Office said the aircraft currently parked in Pakistan “bear no linkage whatsoever to any military contingency or preservation arrangement. Assertions suggesting otherwise are speculative, misleading, and entirely detached from the factual context.”

Islamabad also said Pakistan had acted as an “impartial, constructive and responsible facilitator” in efforts to reduce tensions between Iran and the United States.

The Foreign Office further said that despite the pause in formal negotiations, senior-level diplomatic contacts had continued. The recent visits of the Iranian foreign minister to Islamabad were facilitated through existing logistical arrangements connected to the talks process.

Pakistan has taken on a more visible role in backchannel diplomacy between Tehran and Washington since the recent US-Iran crisis began. Last month, Islamabad hosted high-level talks involving senior US and Iranian officials aimed at preserving what was described as a fragile ceasefire and preventing further escalation in the region.

The Foreign Office said Pakistan remained 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 Office said.

The Express Tribune report said the CBS story appeared to be aimed at undermining diplomatic efforts and Pakistan’s role in mediation, while Pakistani officials maintained that the country would continue to support efforts for dialogue.