Story perspectives

US, Iran Land at Pakistan Base; China Supplies 80% Arms

5/12/2026

Center

Iranian Planes Logistics

Pakistani officials say Iranian and U.S. aircraft used Nur Khan Airbase for logistics during the Islamabad Talks, not to shield Iran.
Iranian military planes, including an RC-130, landed at Nur Khan Airbase in Pakistan in early May 2026.
U.S. officials warned Pakistan’s allowing of Iranian aircraft could shield them from American airstrikes.
China supplied about 80 % of Pakistan’s arms from 2020 to 2024, influencing Islamabad’s diplomatic stance.

Right

Graham Warns Pakistan

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Trump supporter, said Pakistan’s hosting of Iranian planes could force United States to rethink Islamabad’s role.
U.S. officials said Pakistan allowed Iranian aircraft to park at a Pakistani air force base, shielding them from American airstrikes.
Sen. Roger Wicker called report ‘not good news’ and warned negotiations in Pakistan were unlikely.
Pakistan signed defense pact with Saudi Arabia and seeks agreements with Qatar, Egypt and Turkey.

History

Historical Context

After the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, General Zia-ul-Haq let the United States channel Operation Cyclone through Pakistan’s ISI, sending more than $20 billion of aid and weapons that began arriving in January 1980. The ISI’s airfields became the main logistical hub for the mujahideen, a role that today repeats as Pakistan again hosts U.S. and Iranian surveillance aircraft, shaping regional security.

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Iranian Planes Logistics

Pakistani officials say Iranian and U.S. aircraft used Nur Khan Airbase for logistics during the Islamabad Talks, not to shield Iran.
Iranian military planes, including an RC-130, landed at Nur Khan Airbase in Pakistan in early May 2026.
U.S. officials warned Pakistan’s allowing of Iranian aircraft could shield them from American airstrikes.
China supplied about 80 % of Pakistan’s arms from 2020 to 2024, influencing Islamabad’s diplomatic stance.

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