Islamabad, Pakistan – In a firm response reflecting the delicate diplomatic balance in the region, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry on Tuesday described as “misleading and alarming” a report by a US media outlet alleging that Islamabad had “quietly allowed” Iranian military aircraft to park at its airports.
This response puts an end to speculation that attempted to portray Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the Middle East conflict as a military alignment with one side or the other.
Details of the claim and Noor Khan’s response
CBS News quoted officials claiming that days after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran in early April, Tehran sent several aircraft to Nur Khan Air Base, including RC-130 reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering drones.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry, in a statement, categorically rejected this account, asserting that “such speculative narratives aim to undermine efforts to achieve regional stability and peace.” The statement clarified that the movement of both Iranian and American aircraft was intended to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel and security teams associated with the Islamabad talks. It further explained that the continued presence of some aircraft was a temporary arrangement in preparation for subsequent rounds of negotiations.
Transparency of the mediator and media pressure
The ministry stressed that the currently grounded Iranian aircraft arrived during the truce period and have no connection to any emergency military plans, saying: “Pakistan has always played the role of a neutral, constructive and responsible mediator, providing routine logistical support while maintaining full transparency and regular communication with all concerned parties.”
In a related context, the timing of the CBS report raised questions about media agendas, as it came after sweeping management changes at the network that included bringing in editors described as “more aligned with the pro-Israel agenda.”
Reports, including one published by The Guardian, indicated a sense of unease among staff regarding the “clear bias” and excessive reliance on Israeli sources in covering the conflict. This has placed the credibility of recent reports on the Iranian presence in Pakistan under intense political scrutiny.
