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The suggested port would be located in Pasni, a town in Balochistan’s Gwadar District.
Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir displays a wooden box, claimed to contain rare earth minerals, during his meeting with US President Donald Trump. (IMAGE: X)
Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s advisors have reportedly approached US officials with a proposal for American investors to build and operate a civilian port on the Arabian Sea, according to the Financial Times. The suggested terminal would be located in Pasni, a town in Balochistan’s Gwadar District, and would provide Washington with access to Pakistan’s vast reserves of critical minerals.
The proposal, seen as part of Islamabad’s bid to deepen economic and strategic ties with Washington, was shared with Munir ahead of his late-September meeting at the White House with US President Donald Trump. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who accompanied Munir, had also sought US investment in agriculture, energy, mining, and technology during the visit.
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What do we know about the port?
The FT report stressed that the blueprint explicitly rules out the use of the Pasni port for US military purposes. Instead, it seeks to attract American development finance to establish a rail network connecting Pasni to mineral-rich western provinces. This would allow the United States to tap into copper, lithium, rare earths and other critical resources considered vital for global supply chains and clean energy technologies.
Neither the US State Department nor the White House has commented on the report.
Balochistan, Pakistan and Washington
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least-developed province, has long been a hub of geopolitical contestation. Rich in copper, gold, chromite, coal, lithium, and rare earth metals, it has drawn renewed interest as global powers race to secure critical minerals for advanced industries and defence technologies.
Washington’s interest in Balochistan has grown under Trump’s administration, which recently designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. The move, welcomed by Islamabad, strengthens counter-terrorism cooperation but also signals America’s willingness to back Pakistan’s efforts to stabilise the restive region in exchange for resource access.
For Pakistan, the Pasni port project promises capital inflows, trade concessions, and strengthened ties with Washington. For the US, it provides a mineral corridor that could reduce reliance on China, particularly in rare earths.
(With agency inputs)
About the Author
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public…Read More
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public… Read More
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
October 04, 2025, 14:17 IST
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