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Nur Khan
Nation / PlacePK

Nur Khan

Pakistan Air Force base near Islamabad; landing point for the US delegation on 10 April.

Last refreshed: 11 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Why did the US delegation land at a military base, not Islamabad's civilian airport?

Timeline for Nur Khan

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Common Questions
Where did JD Vance land in Pakistan for the Iran talks?
Vance arrived at Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi on 10 April 2026, leading the US delegation to the Islamabad proximity talks.Source: Lowdown update 65
What is Nur Khan air base Pakistan?
Nur Khan (formerly Chaklala) is the Pakistan Air Force's primary VIP and transport hub in Rawalpindi, used for official delegations and heads of state visits.
Why are the Iran US talks happening in Islamabad?
Pakistan offered itself as the neutral proximity-format host; Pakistani officials physically shuttled messages between delegations in separate rooms at the Serena Hotel.Source: Lowdown update 65

Background

Nur Khan air base, on the western edge of Rawalpindi adjoining Islamabad, became the entry point for the US delegation on 10 April 2026, when Vice President JD Vance arrived at its head to participate in the Islamabad proximity talks, the first formal US-Iran negotiating session since 1979. Pakistan routed the delegation through Nur Khan rather than the civilian Islamabad International Airport, signalling the military character of the arrangements.

Nur Khan (formerly Chaklala) is the primary VIP and transport hub for the Pakistan Air Force's Air Headquarters in Rawalpindi. Its location inside the Rawalpindi Cantonment makes it the standard gateway for high-security foreign delegations and heads of state, handling protocol and logistics outside civilian air traffic infrastructure.

The base's role in the Islamabad summit underscores Pakistan's positioning as the credible neutral guarantor of the talks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf before any contact with the Americans, and Pakistani diplomats physically walked messages between the two delegations throughout the opening session. Former Pakistani UN Ambassador Zamir Akram described Pakistan's success bar as 'breathing space, not expecting anything big'.