Questions raised over Pakistan’s mediator role after report claims Iran parked military aircraft at Nur Khan airbase

Pakistan’s role as a mediator between the United States and Iran has come under fresh scrutiny after reports claimed that Islamabad quietly allowed Iranian military aircraft to use the Nur Khan airbase during the recent conflict to shield them from possible US strikes.

According to a report by CBS News, American officials alleged that Pakistan permitted Iran to temporarily move military aircraft, including surveillance and transport planes, to the Nur Khan airbase near Rawalpindi. The move was reportedly aimed at protecting Iranian aviation assets during heightened tensions with Washington.

The report said one of the aircraft moved was an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance aircraft, a variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules used for intelligence and surveillance operations. Officials reportedly told CBS that the aircraft were transferred days after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire arrangement with Iran in early April.

The revelations have sparked questions in Washington over Pakistan’s public positioning as a neutral mediator while allegedly assisting Tehran behind the scenes. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham was among those who reportedly questioned Islamabad’s credibility as a mediator in the ongoing diplomatic process.

Pakistan has played an active diplomatic role in attempts to reduce tensions between Iran and the US in recent months. Islamabad had offered to host talks between the two sides and, along with China, proposed a five-point peace initiative focused on restoring stability in the Gulf region and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Nur Khan airbase is considered one of Pakistan’s most strategically important military facilities. Located near Rawalpindi, the base serves as a major transport and refuelling hub for the Pakistan Air Force and lies close to Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division, which oversees the country’s nuclear arsenal.

The airbase had also drawn international attention during the 2025 India-Pakistan military escalation after India reportedly carried out strikes targeting military infrastructure at Nur Khan. Analysts at the time warned that attacks near the base heightened fears of broader regional instability due to its proximity to Pakistan’s nuclear command infrastructure.

While Pakistan has not officially confirmed the latest allegations, the report has intensified debate over Islamabad’s balancing act between maintaining ties with Tehran and preserving strategic relations with Washington amid ongoing Middle East tensions.