Pakistan Sheltered Iranian Aircraft Amid US Threat

Pakistan, acting as a mediator in the US-Iran conflict, reportedly allowed Iranian military aircraft to use its airfields for protection from American airstrikes. This was revealed by CBS News, citing unnamed US officials. The report mentioned that Iran had also parked civilian aircraft in neighboring Afghanistan for similar reasons.

Reacting to this report, US Senator Lindsey Graham called for a review of Pakistan's role as a mediator. He stated, "If this reporting is accurate, it would require a complete reevaluation of the role Pakistan is playing." Graham also expressed surprise, given Pakistan's past statements towards Israel.

The CBS report detailed that Iran had sent multiple aircraft, including a reconnaissance plane, to Pakistan's Nur Khan airbase after a US-Iran ceasefire was announced in April. However, a senior Pakistani official denied these claims, stating that such a large fleet of aircraft couldn't be hidden from public view at Nur Khan base.

Separately, an Afghan official confirmed that an Iranian civilian aircraft landed in Kabul before the war and remained there after Iranian airspace closed. This aircraft was later moved to an airport in Herat near the Iranian border.

Pakistan's military assistance has significantly increased from China over the past decade, with China supplying about 80% of Pakistan's major arms between 2020 and 2024, according to a study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Pakistan has attempted to balance its relationship with the US, Iran, and China during this crisis.