Pakistan Leases Military Bases in Balochistan to US and Israel for Iran Strike Operations
In a development that could significantly destabilize the already volatile Middle East-South Asia corridor, Pakistan has reportedly leased two of its military bases in Balochistan to the United States, with possible operational access extended to Israeli forces, for launching potential military strikes against Iran, according to regional intelligence sources.
The bases—believed to be near Panjgur and Washuk, close to the Iran-Afghanistan border—are strategically located just kilometers from Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province, a region known for its restive dynamics and past insurgencies. Their proximity would allow for rapid deployment of air and drone assets against Iranian military and nuclear sites in the event of an escalation.
Strategic Implications
If confirmed, this marks a seismic geopolitical shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy calculus. Historically, Pakistan has tried to balance relations between Saudi Arabia, the US, and Iran, but this move could effectively place it at the center of a future US-Israel military campaign against Tehran.
Military analysts suggest the location of these bases is not coincidental.
“These aren’t just symbolic outposts. They are perfectly positioned for tactical strikes into Iran’s eastern flank, bypassing heavily defended western zones,” said a senior regional analyst.
US and Israeli drones or strike aircraft could potentially use these forward bases to carry out surprise, low-altitude attacks deep into Iranian territory, avoiding detection from Iran’s robust western air defense systems.
Iranian Response & Regional Fallout
Iran has previously warned of “full-spectrum retaliation” if any neighboring country hosts foreign forces involved in aggression against it. Tehran maintains that any launch of attacks from Pakistani soil would be viewed as “an act of war” by Pakistan itself, not just the US or Israel.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has already been reinforcing its eastern border and is likely to elevate threat levels in Sistan-Baluchistan, possibly responding with asymmetric warfare or proxy strikes.
The situation could also spark a second front in the ongoing Middle East crisis, stretching Iran’s resources and forcing it to confront a regional coalition that includes not just Israel and the US, but potentially Gulf allies operating from Pakistani or Omani territory.
Domestic Blowback for Pakistan
Within Pakistan, the decision—if officially confirmed—could cause severe domestic political and security repercussions. Balochistan has been a hotspot for separatist insurgency and anti-state sentiment, and locals are unlikely to welcome a foreign military presence targeting a neighboring country with deep sectarian and cultural ties.
Further, Pakistan’s fragile internal politics, its economic crisis, and rising public sympathy for Palestine and Iran could lead to mass protests and internal unrest if the population perceives the military as “selling sovereignty” to Western powers.
International Reactions & Next Steps
As of now, official confirmation from Islamabad or Washington remains absent, but satellite imagery and restricted NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) zones around the two Balochistan airfields have intensified speculation. Iran is reportedly monitoring military flights and drone activity originating from the region.
Should a conflict break out, Pakistan risks becoming a battleground—not just a staging ground—for future retaliation, with massive economic and geopolitical consequences.
By leasing strategic bases to foreign powers with clear intent to strike Iran, Pakistan may be walking into a geopolitical minefield. What might be a short-term strategic or financial gain could escalate into long-term instability, both across its borders and within its own fractured domestic landscape. As tensions simmer across the region, the world watches to see whether this decision lights the fuse of a new regional war.
