Washington, May 12 , 2026 : A report by CBS News citing unnamed US officials has claimed that Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to park at its airbases during the recent US-Iran conflict in an alleged attempt to shield them from possible American airstrikes.
According to the report, Iran reportedly moved multiple aircraft — including a reconnaissance and intelligence plane — to Pakistan’s Nur Khan Airbase shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire pause in April.
The report further alleged that Iran also stationed some civilian aircraft in neighbouring Afghanistan during the conflict to protect them from potential strikes after Iranian airspace restrictions were imposed.
Responding to the claims, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called for a reassessment of Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the conflict.
“If this reporting is accurate, it would require a complete reevaluation of the role Pakistan is playing as mediator between Iran, the United States and other parties,” Graham wrote on X.
A senior Pakistani official, however, strongly rejected the allegations involving Nur Khan Airbase and told CBS News that such activity could not remain hidden because the base is located within a densely populated urban area.
“Nur Khan base is right in the heart of the city. A large fleet of aircraft parked there cannot be hidden from public view,” the official reportedly said.
The report also quoted Afghan civil aviation officials claiming that an Iranian civilian aircraft belonging to Mahan Air landed in Kabul shortly before the conflict escalated and was later shifted to Herat near the Iranian border after regional tensions intensified.
CBS News additionally noted Pakistan’s growing military and economic dependence on China, citing a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute study which found that Beijing supplied nearly 80 percent of Pakistan’s major arms imports between 2020 and 2024.
According to the report, Islamabad has attempted to balance ties with Washington, Tehran and Beijing while positioning itself as a diplomatic intermediary during the conflict.
No official confirmation has yet been issued by the US government regarding the aircraft allegations.
