Pakistan Sheltering Iranian Warplanes Despite Mediation Role

American officials have accused Pakistan of harboring Iranian military aircraft at its airbases to shield them from potential US strikes, even as Islamabad publicly positioned itself as a diplomatic channel between Tehran and Washington, CBS News reported citing unnamed US officials. Iran also sent civilian planes to neighboring Afghanistan, though it remains unclear if any military aircraft were among those flights, two officials told the network.

These movements collectively point to a clear Iranian effort to protect its remaining military and aerial assets from being targeted, all while Pakistani officials were openly acting as mediators to de-escalate tensions.

Iranian Aircraft at a Key Pakistani Base

Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss national security matters, US officials confirmed that Tehran dispatched several aircraft to Pakistan's Nur Khan Airbase—a strategically vital military installation on the outskirts of the garrison city of Rawalpindi—just days after President Trump announced a ceasefire with Iran in early April. Among the military equipment was an Iranian RC-130 aircraft, a specialized reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport plane, belonging to the Iranian Air Force.

A senior Pakistani official rejected the claims regarding Nur Khan Airbase, telling CBS News: "Nur Khan base is located in the heart of the city, and it is impossible to hide a large fleet of aircraft from the public eye."

Iranian Plane Stranded in Afghanistan

According to an Afghan civil aviation official, an Iranian civilian aircraft operated by Mahan Air landed at Kabul airport shortly before the war began. After Iran closed its airspace, the plane remained parked at Kabul airport. When Pakistan launched airstrikes on the Afghan capital in March amid escalating tensions with the Taliban-led government, the Taliban's civil aviation administration decided to move the aircraft to Herat airport, near the Iranian border, for security reasons—to protect it from potential renewed Pakistani bombardment of Kabul airport. The Afghan civil aviation official confirmed this was the only Iranian aircraft remaining in Afghanistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied the presence of any Iranian planes in Afghanistan, telling the American network: "This is not true… Iran does not need that."

China's Role and Pakistan's Balancing Act

Over the past decade, Pakistan has significantly increased its reliance on Chinese military aid. A study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute showed that China supplied Pakistan with approximately 80% of its major arms imports between 2020 and 2024, and Islamabad maintains close economic ties with Beijing. According to the report, Islamabad has tried to maneuver between both sides of the crisis, presenting itself to Washington as a stability mediator while avoiding steps that might anger Tehran or China, Iran's strongest international backer. China, which has deepened military and economic cooperation with both Pakistan and Iran in recent years, has publicly celebrated Pakistan's role in facilitating indirect communications between Tehran and Washington.

Fragile Ceasefire and Iranian Demands

Iran's latest proposal to end the war included demands for US war reparations, recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of American sanctions, according to Iranian state media. These conditions were revealed one day after Trump publicly rejected the Iranian counteroffer, calling it "completely unacceptable." Trump did not specify which elements of the Iranian proposal prompted his rejection. The refusal has heightened tensions in what appears to be a nominal ceasefire, as Trump prepares to travel to Beijing this week for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where the Iran war file is expected to feature prominently alongside disputes over trade and Taiwan.

Meanwhile, limited clashes continued around the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire between Iran and the United States. CBS News reported last week that three US destroyers transiting the strait came under attack, prompting the US to strike two Iranian ports on the waterway.