Sources say both Iranian and US aircraft arrived at the air base for diplomatic logistics linked to the Islamabad talks
Pakistan’s leaders welcome the Iranian delegation for talks with the United States in Islamabad on Friday evening. Photo: Reuters
A report of CBS News Claims that Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to park at an air base to protect them from potential US attacks are “misleading” and based on a distorted interpretation of routine diplomatic logistics, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The clarification came after a post on X claimed that several Iranian aircraft, including a reconnaissance variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, had been stationed at Nur Khan Airbase following the ceasefire announced last month.
According to sources familiar with the diplomatic process, the temporary presence of a limited number of Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase was linked to ongoing backchannel diplomacy and administrative arrangements surrounding the Islamabad negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
“The parking of a few Iranian planes at Nur Khan Airbase has been blown out of proportion by certain opponents of regional and global peace,” sources said.
Officials explained that after the ceasefire and during the first round of the Islamabad talks, several flights from both the US and Iran arrived in Pakistan carrying diplomatic and security personnel. These aircraft remained stationed at Nur Khan Airbase for logistical and administrative purposes.
Sources said some Iranian aircraft and personnel remained in Pakistan after the initial round of talks in anticipation of a second phase of talks.
“Although talks have not resumed directly, the Iranian foreign minister visited Islamabad twice after the first round and the security and administrative arrangements already in place facilitated these visits,” sources added.
They further revealed that US aircraft and security teams had also flown into Pakistan for expected follow-up engagements, although US personnel and aircraft were later moved to regional US bases after a few days.
Officials stressed that Pakistan had acted as a neutral and impartial mediator throughout the process and had provided equal logistical and administrative support to both Tehran and Washington in an effort to promote regional peace.
“Pakistan has remained fully transparent with both sides and has consistently taken both sides into confidence whenever any ambiguity has arisen,” sources said, adding that Islamabad will continue to pursue the same policy going forward.
Sources dismissed suggestions that the Iranian plane was being shielded from potential military action, noting that the plane arrived during a ceasefire period and not in the midst of active hostilities.
“The Iranian aircraft arrived in Pakistan during the ceasefire and no Iranian aircraft were targeted by the US during that period, even inside Iran,” sources said. “Therefore, it is completely baseless to link the parking of these planes with protection against air raids.”
They added that certain sections of the media were trying to sensationalize a routine diplomatic development. “It is clear that certain quarters want to push the region and the world towards another cycle of violence and have created a story out of nothing,” sources maintained.
They reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington and will continue to play a “constructive and active role” in pursuing a negotiated solution in the interest of regional and global peace and security.
