Pakistan rejects claims Iranian aircraft were shielded from US strikes at Nur Khan Airbase

Sources say both Iranian and US aircraft arrived at the airbase for diplomatic logistics tied to Islamabad Talks

A report by CBS News claiming Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to park at an airbase to shield them from potential US strikes is “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 alleged that multiple 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 with knowledge of 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 Talks between Tehran and Washington.

“The parking of a few Iranian aircraft at Nur Khan Airbase has been blown out of proportion by certain detractors of regional and global peace,” sources said.

Officials explained that after the ceasefire and during the first round of Islamabad Talks, several aircraft from both the United States and Iran arrived in Pakistan carrying diplomatic staff 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 negotiations.

“Although the 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 those visits,” sources added.

They further disclosed that American aircraft and security teams had also flown into Pakistan for expected follow-up engagements, though US personnel and aircraft were later relocated to regional American 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 advance regional peace.

“Pakistan has remained fully transparent with both sides and has consistently taken both parties into confidence whenever any ambiguity arose,” sources said, adding that Islamabad would continue to pursue the same policy moving forward.

Rejecting suggestions that the Iranian aircraft were being sheltered from potential military action, sources noted that the aircraft arrived during a ceasefire period and not amid 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, linking the parking of these aircraft to preservation from airstrikes is entirely baseless.”

They added that certain sections of the media of attempting to sensationalise a routine diplomatic development. “Clearly, 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 remained committed to facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington and would continue to play a “constructive and active role” in pursuing a negotiated settlement in the interest of regional and global peace and security.