Pakistan pushed back on a CBS report this week that suggested Iranian planes used Pakistani bases during delicate U.S.-Iran mediation, a claim that rattled talks in Islamabad and drew public reactions from President Donald Trump, Senator Lindsey Graham and others; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the coverage “misleading and sensationalized. Such speculative narratives appear aimed at undermining ongoing efforts for regional stability and peace,” while officials pointed to diplomatic flights and temporary logistics at Nur Khan Airbase near Rawalpindi during the ceasefire and follow-up discussions led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the CBS story distorted a routine, if sensitive, diplomatic shuffle and emphasized the national role as a neutral host, not a hiding place for weapons or aircraft. The ministry noted that talks demanded unusual movement of personnel and support flights to facilitate negotiators and security teams. It insisted those operations were transparent and tied directly to the diplomatic process.
The ministry statement included this passage exactly: “Following the ceasefire and during the initial round of the Islamabad Talks, a number of aircraft from Iran and the United States arrived in Pakistan to facilitate the movement of diplomatic personnel, security teams, and administrative staff associated with the talks process,” and it clarified that “some aircraft and support personnel remained temporarily in Pakistan in anticipation of subsequent rounds of engagement.”
Reports claimed Tehran may also have routed a civilian plane toward Afghanistan during the crisis, and that an Iranian RC-130 reconnaissance variant was among aircraft allegedly moved to Nur Khan Airbase. Nur Khan, just outside Rawalpindi, functions as a major Pakistan Air Force hub and was cited as a convenient place for staging diplomatic logistics. Pakistani officials say that narrative turned normal coordination into something it was not.
There were stark political reactions in Washington after the leaks. President Donald Trump told reporters he was satisfied with Pakistan’s handling of mediation and called the Pakistanis “great.” He also said, “I think the Pakistanis have been great. The field marshal and the prime minister of Pakistan have been absolutely great,” underlining public Republican support for Islamabad’s convening role even amid controversy.
Pakistan first rose to international attention in April as a key mediator after helping to secure a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran around the Strait of Hormuz. Islamabad hosted senior delegations for talks on April 11–12 in what was framed as an opportunity to cool things down before they boiled over. Those sessions carried high stakes and high visibility for Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders.
JD VANCE RETURNS TO WASHINGTON AFTER 16 HOURS OF IRAN PEACE TALKS COLLAPSE IN PAKISTAN was one headline that reflected how quickly negotiations can swing from progress to stall. Despite initial signs of progress, the April talks ultimately collapsed, and U.S. negotiators including private envoys faced a hasty return to Washington. Still, Pakistani leadership expressed an upbeat posture publicly.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif publicly voiced hope even after the breakdown, saying, “We are very optimistic that the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement,” a line officials repeated to signal continued commitment to diplomacy. Pakistan has argued it will keep channels open and press for additional rounds of engagement. That posture drives Islamabad’s line that it is a broker, not a partisan actor in the dispute.
President Trump later announced “Project Freedom,” a limited initiative to guide commercial vessels through the Strait and relieve shipping bottlenecks, though he said the operation paused “at the request of Pakistan and other countries,” including Saudi Arabia, to avoid undermining ongoing talks with Iran. The president framed the pause as cooperative diplomacy in action, meant to preserve space for negotiations rather than escalate military activity.
Not everyone in Washington is convinced. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., warned that if Pakistan did shelter Iranian aircraft it would demand a full reassessment of Islamabad’s role. “If this reporting is accurate, it would require a complete reevaluation of the role Pakistan is playing as mediator between Iran, the United States and other parties. Given some of the prior statements by Pakistani defense officials towards Israel, I would not be shocked if this were true,” Graham said, reflecting deep skepticism among some Republicans.
Pakistan’s team of negotiators has included Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, a blend designed to signal both civilian authority and military backing for talks. Officials have emphasized Pakistan’s unique geography and long-standing ties with Washington as reasons Islamabad was a logical host. Media outreach has continued as U.S. outlets and governments press for clarification; Fox News Digital reached out to the Government of Pakistan, The White House and U.S. Central Command for comment.
