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Pakistan's Role in US-Iran Tensions and the Nur Khan Airbase

Wednesday, May 13, 2026
5 min read
Pakistan's Role in US-Iran Tensions and the Nur Khan Airbase

Fresh satellite images are suggesting something. Pakistan let Iranian military aircraft use its Nur Khan airbase while the US-Iran tensions are heating up. That immediately throws questions at Islamabad’s supposed neutrality. Especially since Pakistan is supposed to be the go-between, the mediator between Washington and Tehran.

Pakistan, of course, denied the reports at first. But then they admitted the planes were there. They insisted, though, that the claims about what was happening were just being misrepresented. They kept pushing the narrative that their role in this whole crisis is just mediation, nothing more.

But the story isn't just about the planes. It drags up old memories. A little-discussed episode from the 1971 war. Iran reportedly helped Pakistan protect some of their military assets back then. Now, some reports are framing this as Pakistan simply "returning the favor" after all these decades.

It’s a heavy historical parallel. Back in '71, the Pahlavi regime in Iran reportedly gave Pakistan sanctuary and logistical support when things were going badly against them. Iran was one of Pakistan’s closest regional allies then. They moved or protected some aircraft because they feared Indian strikes. It tied into those broader Cold War alignments, especially under Nixon, which favored Pakistan regionally.

So, these latest allegations? Analysts are reading them as Pakistan playing a long game. Helping Tehran secure assets now, when American strikes feel imminent. It’s that old dynamic playing out again, just with different players.

The Nur Khan airbase itself matters. It’s not just some random spot. It’s one of Pakistan’s most vital military spots. It’s right near Islamabad and Rawalpindi. It’s a massive logistics hub for the PAF. It sits near infrastructure tied directly to Pakistan’s nuclear command system.

And that’s where the spotlight lands. It got intense attention during the 2025 conflict after Indian precision strikes hit key Pakistani bases, including Nur Khan. Analysts quoted by The Guardian point out that the base has serious strategic depth. It’s one of the safer spots in Pakistan for temporarily housing sensitive military planes.

That’s why seeing Iranian aircraft there, even for a short time, causes so much geopolitical friction far beyond South Asia.

For Washington, the whole thing makes Pakistan’s supposed neutrality look shaky. It throws a wrench into the mediation efforts. Senator Lindsey Graham, for example, made it clear he doesn’t trust Pakistan. He suggested the US should find someone else to manage the truce with Iran.

He put it out there: "I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them. If they actually have Iranian aircraft parked in Pakistan bases to protect Iranian military assets, that tells me we should be looking maybe for somebody else to mediate. No wonder this damn thing is going nowhere."

And for India, it just pulls up those old debates about the strategic compact between Pakistan and Iran during regional crises. It’s always been murky.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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