Pakistan Airbase Report Raises Iran Mediation Questions
Pakistan Airbase Report Raises Iran Mediation Questions
A report claiming that Iranian military aircraft were moved to Pakistan’s Nur Khan Air Base during the recent US-Iran conflict has raised fresh questions over Islamabad’s role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran.
Iranian Aircraft At Nur Khan Air Base
US officials cited in the report claimed that Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to use its airfields after the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was announced. The movement was reportedly meant to protect Iranian aircraft from possible American strikes while tensions remained high.
The aircraft allegedly included an Iranian Air Force RC-130, a reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering variant of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. Nur Khan Air Base, located near Rawalpindi, is one of Pakistan’s most sensitive military facilities.
Pakistan Denies Iranian Aircraft Claim
A senior Pakistani official rejected the claim, saying such aircraft movement at Nur Khan Air Base could not have gone unnoticed because the facility is located in a densely populated area.
The report has still triggered political reaction in the United States. Senator Lindsey Graham said that if the claims are accurate, Washington would need to reassess Pakistan’s role as a mediator between Iran, the United States and other parties.
US-Iran Crisis Puts Islamabad Under Scrutiny
Pakistan has publicly presented itself as a diplomatic channel during the US-Iran crisis, trying to balance ties with Washington, Tehran and Beijing. The aircraft claim has therefore placed Islamabad’s neutrality under renewed scrutiny.
The report also claimed that Iran moved some civilian aircraft to Afghanistan, though it remained unclear whether any military aircraft were part of those movements. The allegations have added another layer of uncertainty to regional diplomacy as the US-Iran ceasefire remains fragile.
