A budget hearing on Capitol Hill took a volatile turn Tuesday when Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) lashed out at top defense officials over reports that Pakistan is providing a safe haven for Iranian military aircraft.
The confrontation began when Graham confronted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine regarding a CBS News report.
The report alleged that Islamabad has permitted Iranian planes to land at its air bases, potentially to shield them from U.S. military strikes. Graham questioned how Pakistan could remain a credible mediator for peace talks if it is actively assisting Tehran.
When asked by Graham whether the reports were accurate, General Caine acknowledged having seen the information but hesitated to confirm the details. The exchange grew more heated as Graham pressed for a stance on whether such actions would disqualify Pakistan as a neutral negotiator.
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“Let me just say, do you agree that if it is accurate, that is sort of inconsistent with it being a peace mediator?” Graham asked.
After Caine declined to comment, Graham turned his attention to Secretary Hegseth. Hegseth attempted to sidestep the friction, stating, “Again, I wouldn’t want to get in the middle of these negotiations.”
The response prompted an immediate outburst from the South Carolina senator.
“Well, I do!” Graham shouted, cutting the Secretary off. “I want to get in the middle of these negotiations. I don’t trust Pakistan as far as I can throw them. If they actually do have Iranian aircraft parked in Pakistan bases to protect Iranian military assets, that tells me we should be looking maybe for somebody else to mediate.”
Graham’s frustration peaked as he slammed the current state of diplomatic efforts. “No wonder this damn thing is going nowhere!” he exclaimed.
While Graham noted his general support for the officials’ work, he made it clear that his patience regarding regional allies had reached a breaking point.
“I appreciate all you’ve done,” Graham added. “I’m very supportive of it, but when it comes to Pakistan and China, enough already!”
The Pentagon has not yet released a formal statement clarifying the validity of the CBS report or responding to Graham’s calls for a new mediator.
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