13/05/2026
Share:
13/05/2026
Share:
WASHINGTON, May 13: US Senator Tim Sheehy and former US envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad have sharply criticized Pakistan following reports that Iranian military aircraft were allowed to use Pakistani airfields during the recent Iran conflict.
Speaking on Fox News, Sheehy accused Pakistan of “hedging against America” and alleged that Islamabad has long provided space for extremist groups. His remarks came after reports suggested Iranian military aircraft were permitted to park at Pakistani bases during heightened tensions involving Tehran and Washington.
Separately, Khalilzad said reports that Pakistan allowed Iranian military aircraft to park at its airfields while simultaneously portraying itself as a mediator between Iran and the United States would be “not surprising” if confirmed.
In a post on X, Khalilzad claimed that “working simultaneously with and against the US has been a pattern of Pakistani policies for the last 40 years,” citing examples including Pakistan’s nuclear program, its role during the US war in Afghanistan, and the discovery of Osama bin Laden near a Pakistani military facility.
According to a report by CBS News citing US officials, Iranian military aircraft, including an Iranian Air Force RC-130 reconnaissance plane, were moved to Pakistan — including Nur Khan Air Base near Rawalpindi — days after a ceasefire announcement between the United States and Iran earlier this year.
The report also stated that some Iranian civilian aircraft were flown to Afghanistan, although it remained unclear whether military aircraft were among them.
A Pakistani official reportedly rejected claims that the aircraft were being hidden, while Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the planes arrived during the ceasefire period for diplomatic and logistical purposes.
