By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday dismissed social media allegations that its territory was serving as a staging ground for potential American military action against Iran, labeling the claims as baseless propaganda aimed at entangling the country in escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The denial, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting through its fact-checking account on the social media platform X, came amid a surge of unverified posts suggesting that United States aircraft had been deployed to Pakistani bases for strikes on Iran, where weeks of antigovernment protests have drawn sharp international condemnation and threats of intervention from President Donald J. Trump.
Officials attributed the rumors to accounts linked to Afghanistan and India, specifically naming three handles: Khurasan Media Urdu, Baba Banaras and Afghan Defense. One post from Khurasan Media Urdu asserted that “special American aircraft have reached Pakistan for an attack on Iran,” citing “unusual” activity involving American aerial refueling and surveillance planes between Pakistan and Iran. A similar message from Baba Banaras claimed: “Multiple US reconnaissance aircraft and cargo planes with weapons landed at Dalbandin Airbase and Pasni Airbase of Pakistan. Looks like the game has been set for Iran.”
The ministry countered that such assertions were fabrications, insisting there was “no credible proof that US aircraft/ISR are based in Pakistan” or conducting “Pakistan-to-Iran operational flights for strikes.” It acknowledged an uptick in American refueling aircraft movements but said that these were unrelated to Pakistan, pointing instead to deployments in Europe amid broader Middle East unrest.
Citing a June 2025 Reuters report, the ministry noted that the United States had shifted a significant number of refueling planes to European bases as tensions mounted. A concurrent article in The Washington Post described the Pentagon’s dispatch of such aircraft to expand its posture in the region. “No credible outlet confirms that US KC-135R/ISR aircraft are operating in Pakistan,” the ministry stated, referring to the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, a key asset for in-flight refueling, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms.
The rebuttal also invoked Pakistan’s past positions, recalling Islamabad’s public condemnation of American strikes on Iran during a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel the previous year. That operation, dubbed “Midnight Hammer,” marked the largest B-2 bomber strike in American history and the second-longest mission for the stealth aircraft, targeting underground uranium enrichment sites at Fordow, along with nuclear facilities in Isfahan and Natanz. “This clearly denied the ‘Pakistan is facilitating strikes’ story,” the ministry said.
Officials characterized the narrative as a “reckless, blame-pushing” effort to “drag Pakistan into a US-Iran conflict without any verifiable evidence,” urging citizens to avoid disseminating “sensational military ‘breaking news’ from propaganda pages.” The social media posts followed an intensifying friction between the United States and Iran, fueled by widespread demonstrations in Iran over deteriorating economic conditions and a harsh government response.
The protests, now entering their third week, have resulted in significant casualties, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which reported at least 572 deaths — including 503 protesters and 69 security personnel — and more than 10,600 detentions. The agency, which cross-checks information through contacts inside Iran, has faced challenges in verification amid widespread internet blackouts and severed phone lines, and Iranian authorities have not released comprehensive figures.
President Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Tehran’s handling of the unrest, warned on Sunday of potential military responses, including strikes, if the crackdown persisted. “The leaders of Iran called [yesterday], … a meeting is being set up… They want to negotiate,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One, while adding that he was considering “a range of strong responses, including military options.”
Iranian officials swiftly rebuffed the threats. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that “the Islamic Republic of Iran is not seeking war but is fully prepared for war,” while affirming readiness for talks “based on mutual respect.” Earlier, Tehran had cautioned that American military bases and Israel would become “legitimate targets” in the event of intervention, blaming Washington and Tel Aviv for instigating the turmoil.
The Iranian government’s warnings echoed amid broader international reactions. China, a key ally of Iran, expressed opposition to external meddling. “We always oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a news conference in Beijing on Monday. “We call on all parties to do more things conducive to peace and stability in the Middle East.”
Pakistan’s stance aligns with its longstanding policy of neutrality in regional conflicts, particularly those involving its western neighbor Iran, with which it shares a porous border and complex diplomatic ties.
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