Pakistan Parked Iranian Planes On Its Airbases To Escape US Airstrikes: Report

Washington, May 12: Pakistan allegedly allowed Iranian military aircraft to park at its airbases to shield them from US airstrikes during the recent US-Iran conflict, according to a CBS News report citing US officials.

The report said Iran also moved some civilian aircraft to neighbouring Afghanistan to protect them from potential strikes. It further claimed that multiple Iranian aircraft, including reconnaissance and intelligence planes, were stationed at Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in April.

Reacting to the report, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called for a reassessment of Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the conflict between the United States and Iran, which began on February 28 and has remained paused since April 8.

“If this reporting is accurate, it would require a complete reevaluation of the role Pakistan is playing as mediator,” Graham said, adding he would not be surprised given past remarks by Pakistani defence officials regarding Israel.

However, a senior Pakistani official rejected the allegations, stating that Nur Khan Airbase is located in a densely populated area and that such aircraft presence could not go unnoticed by the public.

An Afghan civil aviation official told CBS News that an Iranian civilian aircraft operated by Mahan Air had landed in Kabul before the conflict and was later moved to Herat near the Iranian border. Officials added it was the only Iranian aircraft present in Afghanistan.

The report also highlighted Pakistan’s growing reliance on China for military support, noting that Beijing supplied nearly 80 per cent of Pakistan’s major arms between 2020 and 2024. It added that Islamabad has been attempting to balance ties by presenting itself as a mediator to Washington while maintaining relations with Tehran and Beijing. (Agencies)