Pakistan allowed Iranian aircraft to use airbasesIranian aircraft to use airbases to evade US airstrikes during mediation efforts
A CBS News report revealed on May 12, 2026, that Pakistan permitted Iranian military aircraft to park at its airbases, including Nur Khan, to shield them from US airstrikes amid its role mediating the US-Iran war.
Pakistan acknowledged the planes' presence but rejected claims of military protection, calling the report misleading and stating the aircraft arrived during a ceasefire after peace talks.
The disclosure prompted US officials, including Senator Lindsey Graham, to question Pakistan's neutrality and seek alternative mediators as the ceasefire teeters on collapse.
US Perspective
US officials and lawmakers view Pakistan's actions as duplicitous, undermining its credibility as a mediator in the US-Iran war. They argue that sheltering Iranian military assets during active airstrikes shows bias toward Iran and warrants a full reevaluation of Islamabad's diplomatic role. Some call for replacing Pakistan with another party to salvage the fragile ceasefire.
Pakistani Perspective
Pakistan admits Iranian aircraft were at its bases but insists their presence occurred during the ceasefire period after initial peace talks and had no military purpose. Officials describe US media reports as misleading and emphasize that the planes from both sides were there transparently, rejecting any notion of shielding from strikes. They defend their mediation efforts as genuine amid the ongoing US-Iran crisis.
- Pakistan has mediated US-Taliban talks since 2018, leveraging its historical ties to Afghan militants.
- Iran's air force relies heavily on aging pre-1979 US aircraft like F-4 Phantoms due to sanctions.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
