Pakistan on Tuesday strongly rejected a CBS News report alleging that Iranian military aircraft were stationed at Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi, calling the claims "misleading, speculative and sensationalized."
The Foreign Office said the report misrepresented routine diplomatic and logistical activity connected to ceasefire negotiations. CBS cited unnamed US officials in its Monday report.
What did the CBS News report claim about Iranian aircraft in Pakistan?
CBS News reported that Pakistan had "quietly allowed" Iranian military aircraft, including an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance aircraft, to park at its airfields, potentially shielding them from US strikes.
The report cited unnamed US officials and surfaced amid scrutiny of Pakistan's role as a neutral mediator in the US-Iran conflict.
What is Nur Khan Airbase and why does it matter?
Nur Khan Airbase, located in Rawalpindi close to Islamabad, is one of Pakistan's most strategically sensitive military air facilities.
Operated by the Pakistan Air Force, it regularly hosts state aircraft, foreign delegations and high-level diplomatic flights due to its proximity to the federal capital and its secure infrastructure. Its central location also featured in Pakistan's rebuttal, with a senior official noting that a large fleet of aircraft could not be hidden from public view at such a site.
How did Pakistan's Foreign Office respond to the CBS report?
Pakistan's Foreign Office said the report appeared aimed at undermining ongoing diplomatic efforts for regional stability. In an official statement, the ministry explained that following the ceasefire and during the initial phase of the Islamabad talks, aircraft from both Iran and the United States had landed in Pakistan.
The purpose was to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams and administrative staff linked to the negotiations.
The statement added that some aircraft and supporting personnel remained temporarily in Pakistan in anticipation of further rounds of diplomatic engagement.
While formal negotiations had not yet resumed, high-level diplomatic contacts had continued between the parties. Visits by Iran's foreign minister to Islamabad were also facilitated through these logistical arrangements, the ministry said.
Rejecting any military interpretation, the Foreign Office stated that the Iranian aircraft present in Pakistan arrived during the ceasefire period and were not linked to any operational, defensive or contingency military deployment.
"Any suggestion to the contrary is speculative, misleading and detached from the factual context," the statement said. Pakistan reiterated that it has acted as a neutral and constructive facilitator throughout.
Islamabad reaffirmed its commitment to supporting diplomatic initiatives aimed at reducing regional tensions and promoting international peace and stability.
The Foreign Office said it had provided routine logistical and administrative support where required, framing its involvement as consistent with its neutral mediating role. Pakistan has previously rejected claims that it allowed military use of its territory by any party to the conflict.
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