While Pakistan officially took on a mediation role during the conflict between Iran and the USA, it was alleged that it allowed Iranian military aircraft to secretly stay at Pakistan airbases. US officials stated that this move aimed to protect Iran's military assets from possible American airstrikes. According to the allegations, Iran's RC-130 reconnaissance aircraft was also stationed at Nur Khan Air Base.
During the same period, Iran sent civilian aircraft to Afghanistan. Afghan officials announced that an Iranian civilian plane landed in Kabul before the war and was later moved to Herat Airport for security reasons. A Taliban spokesperson stated that Iranian aircraft were not present in Afghanistan.
While Pakistan tries to maintain its complex diplomatic position in the region, it seeks to balance between Iran and the USA with military support received from China. According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China supplied about 80% of Pakistan's major arms procurement between 2020 and 2024.
The declared ceasefire between Iran and the USA remains fragile. Iran's ceasefire conditions include demands for war reparations from the USA, recognition of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, and lifting of sanctions. US President Trump announced that he did not accept these conditions.
While small-scale clashes continue in the region, Iran's drone attacks and US retaliations against Iranian ports are escalating tensions. These developments reveal the delicate balance regional actors are trying to maintain to prevent the deepening of the war alongside diplomatic efforts. Official statements and details about the process may become clearer in the coming days.
