Pakistan let Iran park military jets at Nur Khan base amid US conflict: Report
Synopsis
Pakistan's claim of being a neutral mediator in the Iran-US conflict is under scrutiny after a CBS News report alleged that Iranian military aircraft, including an RC-130 reconnaissance plane, were quietly parked at Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan near Rawalpindi. Islamabad has strongly denied the allegations, but the report raises sharp questions about the country's diplomatic double game.
Key Takeaways
CBS News reported that Iran moved military aircraft, including an RC-130 reconnaissance plane , to PAF Base Nur Khan near Rawalpindi during the Iran-US conflict .
The alleged transfer occurred shortly after President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Tehran in early April .
A senior Pakistani official strongly denied the claim, saying aircraft parked at Nur Khan — located in the heart of the city — could not be hidden from public view.
Iran also reportedly moved civilian aircraft into Afghanistan ; Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied sheltering any Iranian planes.
China supplied nearly 80% of Pakistan's major arms imports between 2020 and 2024 , according to a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute study cited in the report.
The allegations surface ahead of Trump's scheduled visit to Beijing , where Iran, trade, and Taiwan are expected to dominate talks with President Xi Jinping .
Pakistan reportedly allowed Iranian military aircraft to park at its airbases during the recent Iran-US conflict, even as Islamabad publicly positioned itself as a neutral diplomatic intermediary between Tehran and Washington, according to a CBS News report citing US officials familiar with the matter.
Key Allegations
According to the report, Iran moved multiple aircraft — including military assets — to Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan near Rawalpindi shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire with Tehran in early April. Among the aircraft allegedly transferred was an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane, a surveillance and intelligence-gathering variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft. Nur Khan is one of Pakistan's most strategically significant military installations.
US officials who spoke to CBS News did so on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the national security matter. US Central Command declined to comment directly and referred the network to Pakistani and Afghan authorities.
Pakistan Strongly Denies the Claims
A senior Pakistani official categorically rejected the allegation.
Point of View
Beijing's military hardware, and Tehran's border stability simultaneously. If the Nur Khan allegations are substantiated, they would expose a significant gap between Pakistan's public diplomatic posture and its operational choices. What's being missed in mainstream coverage is the structural bind: with China supplying 80% of Pakistan's arms and Iran sharing a volatile border, Islamabad has limited room to be genuinely neutral. The timing — ahead of Trump's Beijing visit — also raises the question of whether this report is part of a broader US signalling exercise toward both Pakistan and China.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CBS News report about Pakistan and Iranian military aircraft?
CBS News reported, citing anonymous US officials, that Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft — including an RC-130 reconnaissance plane — to park at Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan near Rawalpindi during the recent Iran-US conflict. The alleged transfer reportedly occurred shortly after President Trump announced a ceasefire with Tehran in early April.
How did Pakistan respond to the allegations?
A senior Pakistani official strongly denied the claim, telling CBS News that Nur Khan base is located in the heart of the city and that a large fleet of aircraft parked there could not be hidden from public view. Pakistan has not issued a formal government statement beyond this denial.
Were Iranian aircraft also moved to Afghanistan?
According to the CBS News report, Iran also moved civilian aircraft into Afghanistan after Iranian airspace was shut during the conflict. A Mahan Air aircraft reportedly landed in Kabul and later moved to Herat Airport near the Iranian border. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied sheltering any Iranian aircraft.
Why does this matter for Pakistan's diplomatic standing?
Pakistan had publicly positioned itself as a neutral mediator between Iran and the United States during the conflict. If the allegations are confirmed, they would raise serious questions about Islamabad's credibility as a diplomatic intermediary and could strain its relationship with Washington at a sensitive moment.
What is Pakistan's strategic relationship with China and Iran?
According to a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute study cited by CBS News, China supplied nearly 80% of Pakistan's major arms imports between 2020 and 2024. Pakistan also shares a sensitive border with Iran and has historically sought to maintain working ties with Tehran, even while pursuing its longstanding security partnership with the United States.
