Senator Lindsey Graham poses questions to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, during a session of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Defense Subcommittee, convened to review the Defense Department’s budget for 2027 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., May 12, 2026. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
On Tuesday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham conveyed his skepticism towards Pakistan, calling into question its position as a go-between in discussions between the U.S. and Iran, prompted by a recent report indicating close collaboration between Pakistan and Iran.
"My confidence in Pakistan is extremely limited," Graham expressed during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.
Earlier on Monday, CBS News disclosed that U.S. officials informed them that Pakistan allegedly permitted Iranian military planes to be stationed at its airfields, “potentially providing them cover from U.S. airstrikes.”
Senator Lindsey Graham questions Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine during a Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Defense hearing to examine the 2027 budget for the Department of Defense on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on May 12, 2026.Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
According to CBS, U.S. officials, who requested anonymity to discuss issues of national security, stated that soon after President Donald Trump announced the cessation of hostilities with Iran in early April, Tehran dispatched several aircraft to Pakistan Air Force Base Nur Khan.
As he departed the White House on Tuesday for his journey to China, Trump remarked to reporters that the Pakistanis have been "outstanding."
"The Pakistanis have been outstanding, the field marshal and the prime minister of Pakistan have been outstanding," he declared.
Graham initially inquired of Caine regarding the accuracy of the report; however, Caine refrained from commenting, citing the sensitive, confidential nature of the intelligence. Graham then questioned Caine whether such an action would be incompatible with Pakistan’s function as an intermediary.
"I prefer not to comment on that, considering the potential impact on ongoing negotiations and Pakistan’s involvement," Caine replied.
Graham directed the same question to Hegseth.
"Once again, I would prefer not to intervene in these discussions," Hegseth responded.
“I do wish to intervene in these discussions,” Graham retorted. “I possess a deep mistrust of Pakistan. If they are, in fact, housing Iranian aircraft at Pakistani bases to safeguard Iranian military resources, that suggests we should contemplate seeking an alternate mediator.”
“Small wonder this whole thing is stagnating,” he appended.
In a declaration presented to ABC News, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs "emphatically refuted" the CBS News report, implying that it was deceptive and overly dramatic. The declaration corroborated the presence of Iranian aircraft in Pakistan but noted that American aircraft are similarly permitted to utilize its airfields.
“In the wake of the ceasefire and during the preliminary phase of the Islamabad Talks, several aircraft from both Iran and the United States arrived in Pakistan with the aim of facilitating the transit of diplomatic figures, security contingents, and administrative personnel connected with the negotiation process,” the declaration read.
“Certain aircraft and accompanying personnel remained temporarily in Pakistan in anticipation of upcoming rounds of engagement," the declaration further stated.
The ministry added that the aircraft situated within its boundaries “arrived during the period of ceasefire and bear no correlation whatsoever to any military planning or protective strategy.”
The ministry upheld Pakistan’s position as an “unbiased, constructive, and responsible facilitator in promoting dialogue and de-escalation.”
"Claims indicating otherwise are based on conjecture, misleading, and completely divorced from the reality of the situation," the declaration asserted.
Habi Khan from ABC News contributed to this report.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com