Pakistan has quietly allowed Iranian military aircraft to park at one of its airbases despite presenting itself as a diplomatic intermediary between Tehran and Washington, CBS News reports. Days after President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran in early April, Tehran sent several aircraft to Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan near Rawalpindi, according to US officials who spoke to the American broadcaster on condition of anonymity over national security concerns.
Among the aircraft was an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane, a surveillance variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft, the report said.
The officials said the aircraft movements appeared to be part of Iran’s effort to protect some of its remaining military and aviation assets from possible US airstrikes while regional tensions continued to grow.
CBS News also said Iran sent civilian aircraft to neighbouring Afghanistan, though it was unclear whether military planes were included among those flights.
The outlet, citing an Afghan civil aviation officer, said an aircraft belonging to Iran’s Mahan Air landed in Kabul shortly before the war began and remained there after Iranian airspace was closed.
The aircraft was later moved to Herat Airport near the Iranian border after Pakistan launched airstrikes on Kabul in March during tensions with the Taliban administration over allegations involving Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid denied any Iranian aircraft were being kept in Afghanistan, telling CBS News that Iran did not need to do so. A senior Pakistani official also rejected claims involving Nur Khan Air Base, saying a large fleet of aircraft could not remain hidden at a base located in the middle of a populated city.
The report said Pakistan has attempted to balance ties with Washington, Tehran and Beijing during the conflict, while China has publicly welcomed Islamabad’s role in facilitating indirect communication between Iran and the US.
Pakistan Allowed Iranian Military Aircraft use Airbase Despite Mediator Role, CBS Reports
