Reports have emerged suggesting that Pakistan secretly permitted Iran to position military aircraft at its Nur Khan airbase, despite Islamabad publicly presenting itself as a mediator in US-Iran relations. This development follows a ceasefire announcement by US President Donald Trump earlier in April.
According to US officials, shortly after the ceasefire declaration, Iran transferred some of its aviation assets to the strategically significant Nur Khan airbase, located near the garrison city of Rawalpindi. Among the aircraft moved was an RC-130, a reconnaissance variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane.
A senior Pakistani official has firmly denied these allegations, emphasizing that the airbase is situated in a populous area, making it impossible to conceal any military presence from the public eye. He stated, “The Nur Khan base is in the heart of the city, and a large fleet of aircraft cannot be hidden from public view.”
Analysts note that Pakistan is attempting to navigate its relationships with both Washington and Beijing, particularly as its reliance on Chinese military assistance has surged to approximately 80% of its total arms imports in recent years.
Meanwhile, tensions between the US and Iran remain high. Tehran has laid out conditions for a ceasefire, including demands for reparations, recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of all sanctions. President Trump has publicly rejected these terms, labeling them as “absolutely unacceptable,” but did not specify which aspects of the proposal were problematic.
On May 10, the United Arab Emirates reported renewed drone attacks on its territory attributed to Iran. Additionally, last week, Iran targeted three US Navy destroyers as they navigated the Strait of Hormuz, prompting the United States to strike two Iranian ports near the strait in retaliation.
Recent reports indicate that Pakistan may have allowed Iran to station military aircraft at a key airbase, despite its public stance as a mediator in US-Iran tensions. As the situation escalates, both nations continue to exchange hostile actions and demands.