ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly rejected a report by CBS News regarding the presence of Iranian aircraft at the capital Islamabad Nur Khan Airbase, calling it “misleading and sensationalised” and accusing certain quarters of attempting to undermine regional peace efforts.
In an official statement issued by the Foreign Office spokesperson, Pakistan said the aircraft in question arrived during the ceasefire period following the first round of the Islamabad Talks between Iran and the United States.
According to the statement, several aircraft from both Iran and the United States had travelled to Pakistan to transport diplomatic staff, security personnel, and administrative teams associated with the negotiations process.
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Official Response to CBS Report on Iranian Aircraft in Pakistan
🔗⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ZqJw28nNaK— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) May 12, 2026
Pakistani officials clarified that some Iranian aircraft and support staff remained temporarily at Nur Khan Airbase in anticipation of subsequent rounds of talks.
“Although formal negotiations have not yet resumed, senior-level diplomatic exchanges have continued,” the statement said, adding that recent visits by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Islamabad were facilitated through the same logistical arrangements established during the talks.
The Foreign Office stressed that the aircraft currently parked in Pakistan have “no linkage whatsoever to any military contingency or preservation arrangement,” rejecting claims circulating in sections of the media as “speculative, misleading, and entirely detached from the factual context.”
Pakistan has consistently acted as an impartial, constructive, and responsible facilitator in support of dialogue and de-escalation. In line with this role, Pakistan has extended routine logistical and administrative support where required, while maintaining full transparency and regular communication with all relevant parties.
Pakistan remains committed to supporting all sincere efforts aimed at promoting dialogue, reducing tensions, and advancing regional and global peace, stability, and security.
Security officials also stated that the issue had been “blown out of proportion” by elements opposed to regional stability and peace efforts.
According to officials familiar with the process, American aircraft and security teams had also arrived in Pakistan after the first round of talks for planned future engagements before later relocating to regional US bases.
Pakistan reiterated that it has acted as an “impartial, constructive and responsible facilitator” throughout the diplomatic process and has remained fully transparent with all parties involved.
Officials maintained that the Iranian aircraft arrived during the ceasefire period — not during active hostilities — and therefore suggestions that the aircraft were being preserved from possible attacks were baseless.
“Certain quarters want to push the region and the world towards a fresh cycle of violence and have created a story out of nothing,” officials said.
Pakistan further reaffirmed its commitment to continuing mediation efforts aimed at reducing tensions and promoting a negotiated settlement in the interest of regional and global peace and security.
Pakistani officials said Islamabad has maintained complete transparency with both Tehran and Washington throughout the diplomatic process, consistently keeping both sides informed whenever any ambiguity emerged.
Officials added that Pakistan would continue to follow the same policy as part of its role as a neutral facilitator.
They further clarified that the Iranian aircraft arrived in Pakistan during the ceasefire period — not amid active hostilities — and stressed that their presence at Nur Khan Airbase had no connection to any military preservation arrangement.
Officials accused certain sections of the media of promoting speculative narratives aimed at fuelling tensions, while reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to continuing its mediation efforts in support of a negotiated settlement and broader regional stability.
