On Tuesday, President Donald Trump affirmed his confidence in Pakistan’s role as a mediator in the ongoing Iran conflict, despite skepticism from within his Republican ranks. Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent ally of President Trump, expressed his distrust towards Islamabad, citing reports that Pakistan had allegedly provided safe haven for Iranian military aircraft by allowing them to park on its airfields, thus shielding them from potential U.S. air strikes.
Addressing these concerns, Pakistan clarified that both U.S. and Iranian aircraft were stationed in Islamabad to facilitate logistics related to ceasefire discussions. The aircraft were present in anticipation of further talks, with no implications of a “preservation arrangement,” according to Pakistani officials. Senator Graham, during a Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee session, was vocal in his distrust, stating, “I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them.” He further suggested that if Pakistan was indeed harboring Iranian aircraft to protect military assets, it might be necessary to find another mediator.
Despite these assertions, President Trump dismissed the notion of reevaluating Pakistan’s mediating role. He praised the efforts of Pakistan, 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,” when questioned by reporters. This statement underscored his administration’s continued reliance on Pakistan as a partner in navigating the complexities of the Iran situation.
In response to the allegations, Pakistan’s embassy in Washington deferred inquiries to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which reiterated that the presence of Iranian aircraft was strictly tied to the ceasefire period and had no connection to any military contingency or preservation arrangement. The ministry’s statement emphasized that any claims to the contrary were speculative and not grounded in fact.
The controversy was fueled by reports quoting unnamed U.S. officials, which claimed that following President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire on April 7, Iran dispatched several aircraft to Pakistan’s Nur Khan Air Force Base near Rawalpindi. However, the official narrative from Pakistan seeks to distance itself from these accusations, reinforcing its commitment to its mediating role without any ulterior military objectives.