Pakistan reportedly permitted Iranian military aircraft to be stationed at its airbases amid the recent tensions between Iran and the United States. This move occurred despite Pakistan’s public stance as a mediator between Tehran and Washington. The aircraft, including military assets, were said to have been relocated to Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan near Rawalpindi.
The deployment allegedly included an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance aircraft, a specialized version of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules tactical transport plane. If verified, this development could complicate Pakistan’s efforts to balance its relationships with the US, China, and Iran. US officials, speaking anonymously, disclosed this information due to national security concerns.
US Central Command refrained from direct comments, redirecting inquiries to Pakistani and Afghan authorities. A senior Pakistani official denied the allegations, emphasizing the visibility of a large fleet of aircraft at the Nur Khan base. Additionally, Iran reportedly moved civilian aircraft to Afghanistan following the closure of its airspace during the conflict.
According to an Afghan civil aviation official, a Mahan Air aircraft landed in Kabul before the conflict and remained there after Iranian airspace shutdown. The Taliban allegedly relocated the aircraft to Herat Airport near the Iranian border after Pakistani airstrikes near Kabul. However, a Taliban spokesperson refuted claims of sheltering Iranian aircraft in Afghanistan, stating that Iran had no need for such actions.
