Pakistan Allowed Iranian Military Aircraft at Airbases After US-Iran Ceasefire: Report
Pakistan stealthily permitted Iranian military aircraft to use its airbases in the days following the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, according to a report by CBS News citing American officials familiar with the matter.
US officials quoted in the report claimed the move may have been intended to shield Iranian aircraft from possible American strikes as tensions between Washington and Tehran remained extremely sensitive after fighting erupted on February 28.
The reported development has drawn attention because Pakistan has publicly projected itself as a neutral intermediary between the US and Iran during the crisis.
Islamabad had hosted diplomatic talks between the two sides last month, though those discussions reportedly failed to produce any breakthrough.
The ceasefire, announced in early April by US President Donald Trump, has largely remained in place.
However, disagreements continue over the framework for a long-term agreement between Washington and Tehran.
According to the report, Iran recently responded to an American proposal by demanding compensation for damages caused during the conflict, along with the removal of the US naval blockade.
Trump reportedly rejected those demands, describing them as “totally unacceptable”.
The report further stated that several Iranian aircraft, including a surveillance version of the Lockheed C-130, were flown to Pakistan’s Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi shortly after the ceasefire announcement.
Officials cited in the report suggested the transfer of aircraft appeared to be part of a wider Iranian effort to safeguard its remaining aviation assets amid fears of renewed military escalation.
The report also claimed that Iran shifted some civilian aircraft to neighbouring Afghanistan during the same period. However, it remained unclear whether any military aircraft were among those relocated there.
A senior Pakistani official strongly dismissed the claims, arguing that such a deployment would have been impossible to conceal because of the strategic location of the airbase.
“Nur Khan base is right in the middle of the city. If a large number of aircraft had been parked there, it would not have escaped public attention,” the official told CBS News.
The allegations also triggered political reactions in the United States. US Senator Lindsey Graham said Washington may need to reassess Pakistan’s regional role if the report proves accurate.
In a post on X, Graham said he would not be surprised if the claims turned out to be true, especially in light of previous comments made by some Pakistani defence officials regarding Israel.
Throughout the recent conflict, Pakistan has attempted to maintain a delicate balance in its relations with both Tehran and Washington.
While continuing diplomatic engagement with the United States, Islamabad has also sought to avoid actions that could damage ties with neighbouring Iran, positioning itself publicly as a mediator rather than a direct participant in the crisis.
