Surprising revelations. While Pakistan has emerged as an unexpected intermediary between Washington and Tehran since the beginning of the conflict, it discreetly allowed Iranian military aircraft to be stationed at its airbases, according to officials speaking to CBS News. These actions may have protected them from potential American airstrikes.
A few days after Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran in early April, Tehran reportedly sent several aircraft to the Nur Khan airbase of the Pakistani air force, a strategically important military installation located just outside the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi. Among the military equipment was an RC-130, a variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft.
A senior Pakistani official denied these allegations to CBS News, stating that Nur Khan base is “in the heart of the city” and therefore “a large fleet of aircraft stationed there cannot be hidden from the public.”
Iranian aircraft in Afghanistan as well? On Tuesday, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement that Iranian aircraft were indeed in the country, but they “have no connection to any potential military contingency or preservation arrangement.” The ministry stated that a number of Iranian aircraft were there to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel and security teams if new peace negotiations were planned. The ministry added that Pakistan had always acted as an impartial facilitator and had been transparent with “all parties concerned.”
In addition to Pakistan, Iran also reportedly deployed aircraft to Afghanistan. A civilian aircraft from Mahan Air was notably stationed at Kabul International Airport for an extended period after Iranian authorities closed Iranian airspace.
But last February, when tensions erupted between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government, Pakistani airstrikes sounded over Kabul. Faced with the threat of a Pakistani aircraft bombing Kabul airport, Afghan civil aviation authorities decided to move the Iranian aircraft to Herat airport, near the Iranian border, to ensure its protection.
An act in the interest of China? Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, formally denied the presence of Iranian aircraft in Afghanistan. He told American media that this information was false and that Iran did not need to resort to such practices.
Pakistan has increased its military and economic dependence on China in recent years, with Beijing being its main arms supplier. Islamabad is striving to maintain a delicate position by presenting itself as a mediator between Washington and Tehran while ensuring not to harm its relations with China and Iran.
The information that Pakistan discreetly allowed Iranian military aircraft to be stationed at its bases to protect them from American airstrikes could align with China’s interests, as China has strengthened its ties with Iran.
