Published: 12:24 AM, 10 June 2026
Janus Faced Pakistan!
Pakistan’s attempts to project itself as a “serious” mediator in bringing truce to end the ongoing Iran-US-Israel military conflict stands exposed due to its diabolical role in the so-called mediation. Some time back, in these very columns, this columnist had raised doubts about Pakistan’s intentions in brokering the talks towards a peaceful resolution. Pakistan, once again, surfaced in the news for all the wrong reasons chiefly due to a report emanating from US Broadcaster Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) News asserting that Iranian military aircraft were parked at the strategically important Nur Khan Airbase in Pakistan to shield them from potential American strikes. However, Pakistan Foreign Office on May 12 termed the narrative as misleading and sensationalized. Such an argument seems far from the truth.
The CBS report has further claimed that multiple Iranian aircraft, including an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance aircraft, were moved to Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi shortly after President Trump announced a ceasefire in early April this year. The report has further alleged that the move was intended to protect Iranian aviation assets from possible US airstrikes during heightened tensions in the Middle East. Rejecting those assertions, the Pakistan’s Foreign Office also maintained that the aircraft currently parked in Pakistan “bear no linkages whatsoever to any military contingency or preservation arrangement”, adding: “Assertions suggesting otherwise are speculative, misleading, and entirely detached from the factual context”. Again, this argument does not seem to hold any water and the defence remains feeble.
Pakistan, on its part, also stressed rather faintly and unconvincingly that Pakistan has acted as an “impartial, constructive and responsible facilitator” in efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Iran and the US. This `defence’ however, is once again far from any cogent defence. The Pakistan’s Foreign Office further disclosed that despite the pause in formal negotiations, senior-level diplomatic contacts had continued and the recent visits of the Iranian Foreign Minister to Islamabad were facilitated through existing logistical arrangements tied to the talks process. Even Iran’s doubts appear to be sanguine about Pakistan’s assertions on the subject under reference as they conspicuously lack assertion. Though bereft of any logic, Pakistan defence, as per the CBS report observers, appears to be aimed at undermining the diplomatic efforts and Pakistan’s “constructive” role to bring an end to the war through mediation fails to project any realistic response.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s detractors allege, amid Islamabad’s role as a “peace broker” in the West Asia war, that Pakistan had allowed its Nur Khan airbase to shelter Iranian military intelligence aircraft. The arrangement, described by several US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity, suggested Iran was seeking to preserve portions of its military aviation fleet from possible American strikes as the region edged closer to a wider war.
Crucially, according to some media reports, Iran also moved civilian aircraft into neighbouring Afghanistan as part of a broader effort to disperse aviation assets across the region, American officials said. It was, however, not yet clear whether military aircraft were also flown into Afghan territory as well. A senior Pakistani official denied that Iranian aircraft had been stationed at Nur Khan, calling the allegation implausible given the base’s location near densely populated urban areas. This makes the arguments and counter arguments further murkier.
Importantly in Afghanistan, an aviation official said that a civilian aircraft operated by Iran’s Mahan Air landed in Kabul shortly before the conflict intensified and remained there even after the Iranian airspace was closed. The official further revealed that the Taliban authorities later relocated the aircraft to Herat, near the Iranian border, in midst of fears that Pakistani airstrikes targeting militant groups could endanger Kabul airport. These disclosures come as Pakistan’s strategic alignment with China has deepened sharply over the past decade. Here, it is relevant to state that the Chinese officials have publicly praised Islamabad’s role in facilitating indirect communication between Iran and the US during the West Asia crisis.
At the same time, diplomatic efforts to stabilize the cease-fire appeared increasingly fragile further exposing Pakistan’s dubious designs. Iranian state media reported over the weekend that Tehran had already proposed terms to Pakistan for ending the conflict that included American war reparations, recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of US sanctions.
The CBS initiated report being very critical naturally, triggered in Washington, with US lawmakers raising doubts about Islamabad’s neutrality in the mediation efforts. In a post on X, senior Republican senator and Trump’s close ally, Lindsey Graham called for a reassessment of Pakistan’s self-perceived diplomatic role in the crisis. This social media post seems logical and Pakistan needs to be further exposed about its double role in siding with the US and Iran possibly to keep both in good humour. If this reporting is accurate, it would require a complete reevaluation of the role that Pakistan is playing as a mediator between Iran, the US and other parties. Given some of the prior statements by Pakistani defense officials towards Israel, US will certainly be at unease on Pakistan’s role of mediation. In this light, this is probably high time that President Trump recalibrates his opinion about his “favourite” Field Marshal as well as of Pakistan’s political leadership to repose further trust and confidence in Pakistan.
Shantanu Mukharji is a retired IPS officer
and a former National Security
Adviser in Mauritius.
