FO dismisses report on Iranian military aircraft at Pakistan airbase
Pakistan's Foreign Office on Tuesday pushed back sharply against reports claiming that Iranian military aircraft had been permitted to park at a Pakistani airbase, calling the coverage misleading and sensationalised. The FO's rebuttal signals Islamabad's sensitivity over any narrative that could portray it as facilitating Iranian military activity, particularly amid heightened regional tensions.
The Foreign Office did not specify which publication or outlet carried the original report but issued a categorical denial, framing the story as a distortion of facts. The statement is consistent with Pakistan's longstanding policy of maintaining strategic ambiguity and balanced relations with both Iran and Gulf states.
Pakistan shares a lengthy border with Iran and has in recent years navigated a delicate diplomatic path, seeking to preserve ties with Tehran while avoiding actions that could antagonise Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, or the United States. Any suggestion of military cooperation with Iran carries significant geopolitical weight in this context.
The FO's intervention underscores the government's concern about reputational damage from unverified reporting on sensitive security matters. Islamabad has increasingly moved to counter what it regards as irresponsible media narratives on defence and foreign policy subjects.
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