ISLAMABAD - The recent CBS News report suggesting Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to park at Nur Khan Airbase to "shield" them from potential US strikes has been described as "interesting but misleading" by officials familiar with the mediation process. The reality, obscured by sensational framing, is that Pakistan provided the same logistical support to both Iran and the United States - not for war, but for peace .
As a neutral and constructive mediator, Pakistan has played a vital role in facilitating the Islamabad Talks by providing logistical and administrative support to both sides with complete transparency. Aircraft from both Iran and the United States arrived to transport diplomatic personnel, security teams, and staff. Some remained temporarily in anticipation of further rounds of negotiations .
The sequence of events is straightforward, yet certain media outlets have chosen to twist routine diplomatic logistics into a sensational narrative.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Ceasefire announced | April 8, 2026 - Pakistan-brokered |
| First round of Islamabad Talks | April 11-12, 2026 |
| Aircraft from both sides | Arrived carrying diplomatic staff and security personnel |
| US aircraft and teams | Also present; later relocated to regional bases |
| Iranian aircraft | A few remained to support subsequent diplomatic engagements |
| Iranian FM visits | Araghchi visited Islamabad twice; administrative arrangements facilitated these visits |
These movements happened entirely during the ceasefire period - with full knowledge and coordination with both sides. There is absolutely no linkage to any military contingency or "shielding" as sensationally claimed .
The CBS report did not emerge in a vacuum. It is part of a coordinated disinformation campaign orchestrated by Israeli and Indian intelligence agencies to sabotage Pakistan's successful mediation efforts between the United States and Iran .
Why would India and Israel want to undermine the peace process?
| Actor | Motive |
|---|---|
| Israel | Views Pakistan's rising diplomatic stature as a threat; prefers continued US-Iran conflict to weaken Tehran |
| India | Wants to deny Pakistan a diplomatic victory; seeks to isolate Islamabad internationally; remains bitter after military defeat in May 2025 |
The Israeli-Indian axis has been briefing against Pakistan's mediation role in regional media since the start of the year. Israel Hayom asked openly: "Should Israel be worried about Pakistan's new Middle East power play?" The CBS package appears to be the answer some part of that apparatus has now provided.
A senior Pakistani official, speaking anonymously, noted: "The party in this conflict with the clearest record of trying to collapse the negotiating window is the same party whose prime minister was on 60 Minutes on Sunday night, accusing Pakistan of running an information war against him."
This disinformation campaign follows a pattern of cyber and information warfare against Pakistan. In early March 2026, Geo News and ARY News-two of Pakistan's most-watched channels-suffered a sophisticated hack that inserted inflammatory messages accusing the Pakistan Army of leading the nation toward destruction.
Operations of that nature require resources consistent with the known profiles of India's RAW and Israel's Mossad. The method-hijacking a live media signal-mirrors operations previously observed in other regions where state-linked actors have exploited broadcast infrastructure.
The current disinformation campaign appears to be an extension of the same strategy: undermine Pakistan's institutions, sabotage its diplomatic achievements, and isolate it internationally.
The CBS story, stripped of its sensational framing, leaves out several critical facts:
Fact 1: US aircraft and personnel also used Pakistani facilities. They were later relocated to regional American bases. Pakistan treated both sides equally.
Fact 2: The aircraft arrived during a ceasefire, not active hostilities. No Iranian aircraft were targeted by the US during this period, even inside Iran. The "shielding" narrative is therefore baseless.
Fact 3: Nur Khan Airbase is among the most surveilled military installations in South Asia. American and Indian satellites pass over it daily. The claim that a fleet of Iranian military aircraft was "quietly" parked there without US knowledge is absurd on its face.
Fact 4: Iran's actual aircraft preservation problem was solved publicly - Mahan Air aircraft moved to Kabul, then to Herat. Afghan civil aviation officials confirmed these movements to CBS. A government that disclosed its civilian aircraft movements was not running a clandestine military operation in Pakistan.
Fact 5: The senior Pakistani official quoted in the CBS story made the point that such aircraft could not be hidden - and CBS buried that admission below the lede.
Pakistan has consistently acted as an impartial facilitator, keeping both Tehran and Washington informed at every stage. The Foreign Office has reiterated that Islamabad remains "committed to advancing dialogue, de-escalation, and a negotiated settlement for regional and global peace."
| Pakistan's Position | Clarification |
|---|---|
| Neutral mediator | Pakistan has no stake in the outcome except peace |
| Transparent operations | Both sides kept informed; US had full visibility |
| Logistical support | Provided equally to Iran and the US |
| Commitment to peace | Pakistan will continue facilitating dialogue |
The White House has already shut down the CBS narrative. President Trump reaffirmed: "No, they are great. The field marshal and the prime minister of Pakistan have been absolutely great."
The coordinated attack on Pakistan's mediation follows a familiar playbook:
Plant a story in a Western outlet (CBS) using anonymous "officials"
Amplify through aligned media (Times of India, Israeli outlets)
Mobilize political figures (Senator Lindsey Graham) to call for "reevaluation"
Create a firestorm to pressure the administration
Sabotage the peace process by undermining the mediator
The playbook failed. The White House rejected the narrative. Trump reaffirmed trust in Pakistan's leadership. And the peace process continues.
The disinformation campaign against Pakistan is not merely an attack on Islamabad - it is an attack on the peace process itself. Pakistan's mediation has been the only factor preventing the US-Iran conflict from spiraling into a wider regional war.
Those who seek to undermine Pakistan's mediator role are, by extension, seeking to prolong the conflict. The Israeli-Indian axis has clear strategic interests in seeing the US-Iran war continue rather than be resolved through Pakistani mediation.
Israel benefits from a weakened Iran through continued conflict
India benefits from denying Pakistan a diplomatic victory
Both have demonstrated willingness to use disinformation to achieve their objectives
As Pakistan's Foreign Ministry has consistently maintained, certain quarters want to push the region and the world towards another cycle of violence. The current disinformation campaign is a clear manifestation of this agenda.
The CBS report was interesting but misleading. The facts are clear:
Pakistan provided equal logistical support to both Iran and the US
The aircraft arrived during a ceasefire, not active war
US aircraft were also present and were relocated
Iran's actual aircraft movements were public
The White House trusts Pakistan's mediation
Facts matter more than angled narratives. Pakistan remains committed to advancing dialogue, de-escalation, and a negotiated settlement for regional and global peace.
The enemies of peace may have activated their networks. But Pakistan's commitment to regional stability remains unshaken.
