During a recent interaction with reporters, US President Donald Trump affirmed that he had no intention of reconsidering Pakistan’s involvement as a mediator in the ongoing Iran conflict. This statement came despite concerns raised by Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican and close ally of the President, who expressed distrust towards Islamabad. Graham’s concerns were based on reports suggesting that Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to use its airfields, potentially shielding them from US military action.
Senator Graham referenced a report alleging that Iranian aircraft had been stationed at Pakistani airfields, ostensibly to avoid US air strikes. Pakistan responded to these claims, explaining that aircraft from both the US and Iran had been present in Islamabad to facilitate logistics for ceasefire discussions. According to Pakistani officials, some aircraft remained on site in anticipation of further negotiations, but they were not part of any “preservation arrangement” to protect military assets.
In a Senate Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee meeting, Graham voiced his skepticism, stating, “I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them.” He further suggested that if the allegations of Iranian aircraft being protected in Pakistan were true, the US might need to consider alternative mediators for the conflict. Despite these remarks, President Trump appeared to dismiss the idea of reevaluating Pakistan’s role, expressing satisfaction with their efforts.
President Trump praised Pakistan’s leadership, stating, “No, they’re great. I think the Pakistanis have been great. The Field Marshal [Asim Munir] and the Prime Minister of Pakistan [Shehbaz Sharif] have been absolutely great.” Pakistan’s embassy in Washington redirected inquiries to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which clarified that the Iranian aircraft, present during the ceasefire period, had no connection to military contingencies or protection efforts.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that any assertions to the contrary were speculative and disconnected from the actual context. An anonymous report had suggested that Iran dispatched several aircraft to Pakistan’s Nur Khan Air Force Base in Rawalpindi shortly after President Trump’s announcement of a ceasefire on April 7. However, Pakistani officials have consistently maintained that these aircraft were part of logistical arrangements related to the ceasefire discussions.