On Tuesday, President Donald Trump stated that he sees no reason to reassess Pakistan’s involvement as a mediator in the ongoing Iran conflict, despite concerns raised by one of his key Republican supporters. Senator Lindsey Graham, who often aligns with Trump, expressed skepticism about Pakistan’s trustworthiness, following reports that the country allowed Iranian military aircraft to be stationed on its airfields, potentially shielding them from U.S. airstrikes.
The CBS News report cited by Graham suggested that Pakistan had granted Iran this strategic advantage, which raised alarms about the intentions behind Pakistan’s actions. However, Pakistani officials clarified that the aircraft from both the U.S. and Iran were merely stationed in Islamabad to facilitate logistics ahead of ceasefire discussions. They emphasized that these planes were not part of a “preservation arrangement” but remained in place in case further negotiations were necessary.
During a Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee meeting, Graham voiced his concerns, stating, “I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them.” He further suggested that if Pakistan indeed harbors Iranian military assets, the U.S. should perhaps seek alternative mediators for the conflict. Despite these remarks, Trump later downplayed any need to reconsider Pakistan’s role. When questioned by reporters, he expressed confidence in Pakistan’s leadership, stating, “I think the Pakistanis have been great. The Field Marshal [Asim Munir] and the Prime Minister of Pakistan [Shehbaz Sharif] have been absolutely great.”
The Pakistani embassy in Washington directed inquiries to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reiterated that the Iranian aircraft arrived during the ceasefire period and held no connection to any military contingency plans. The ministry firmly dismissed the speculations as “misleading” and “detached from the factual context.”
According to unnamed U.S. officials, Iran dispatched several aircraft to Pakistan’s Nur Khan Air Force Base, located near Rawalpindi, shortly after Trump announced the ceasefire on April 7. This development has further fueled the debate over Pakistan’s involvement and trustworthiness in the delicate negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
