Islamabad – Advisers to Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have approached US officials with a significant offer to allow American investors to build and run a new port on the Arabian Sea, according to a report by the Financial Times on Friday, citing plans seen by the newspaper.
This unprecedented proposal centres on the construction and operation of a commercial terminal in the port town of Pasni, located within the restive Gwadar District of Balochistan province.
The primary objective of the deal is reportedly to grant the US access to Pakistan’s vast, underdeveloped reserves of critical minerals, which are essential for modern technology and strategic defense industries.
High-Level Diplomacy Sets the Stage
The strategic offer follows a significant high-level engagement between the two nations in Washington, D.C.
The plan, according to the FT, was circulated among US officials and shared with Munir ahead of a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House late last month.
The move comes after Munir, along with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, held a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House in September.
In that meeting, PM Sharif sought investment from US companies in the agriculture, technology, mining, and energy sectors for investment.
Pasni, situated along Pakistan’s long coastline, holds immense strategic value, given its proximity to the borders of Afghanistan and Iran.
By offering a large-scale, long-term infrastructure project tied to high-value critical minerals, such as copper, gold, and rare earth elements found in Balochistan, Islamabad is attempting to secure a substantial and enduring US commitment.
A Shift in Strategic Alignment
Geopolitically, the offer signals a profound potential pivot in Pakistan’s foreign policy, which has traditionally been characterized by deep ties with China.
The town of Pasni is less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Gwadar Port, the centrepiece of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which Beijing manages.
The offer to grant the US a parallel strategic foothold in the same vital maritime area introduces a layer of complexity to the region’s great power competition.
Addressing Balochistan’s Security Challenges
Balochistan, where the port is proposed, is the largest but least developed province, plagued by security challenges and a long-running insurgency.
Securing any major international investment, particularly American, would require a significant commitment from the Pakistani military to stabilize the province.
The proposal underscores the military’s current focus on integrating economic strategy directly with national security. By leading the charge for international investment in Pasni’s mineral wealth, Field Marshal Munir’s advisers are aiming to connect the province’s economic development to Pakistan’s geostrategic interests, which they hope will ultimately serve to quell local unrest.
As the Financial Times report noted, the formal proposal has been put before US officials, but no confirmation of acceptance or rejection has been made public by Washington.
