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Pakistan’s recent diplomatic engagements indicate a marked shift in its foreign policy priorities. The country, traditionally aligned with China under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, is now attempting to re-engage with the United States. Central to this emerging realignment is Islamabad’s reported proposal to allow the US to develop a new port at Pasni in Balochistan — a move that carries significant geopolitical and strategic ramifications.

The Pasni Port Proposal: Redefining Strategic Partnerships

Pakistan has reportedly offered the United States the opportunity to build and operate a port at Pasni, a deep-water harbour located on the Arabian Sea in Balochistan’s Gwadar district.

• The proposed port is around 70 miles east of China-operated Gwadar Port and approximately 100 miles from Iran’s border.
• The initiative aims to reduce Pakistan’s dependence on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), attract American investment, and open access to critical mineral exports from Balochistan.
• Plans for a railway linkage between Pasni and the hinterland have also been discussed to enhance trade connectivity.

If realised, this project would grant Washington a strategic maritime foothold in the region — an area of growing competition among global powers.

The Emerging Maritime Triangle: Pasni–Gwadar–Chabahar

Pasni’s location gives rise to a new maritime triangle involving:

• Gwadar Port – a China–Pakistan venture central to the CPEC framework;
• Chabahar Port – a joint India–Iran initiative providing access to Afghanistan and Central Asia; and
• Pasni Port – potentially linked to US–Pakistan cooperation.

This triad places China, the US, and India in close operational proximity, turning the northern Arabian Sea into a strategic hotspot where economic corridors overlap with geopolitical rivalries.

Economic Drivers: The Mineral Dimension

Balochistan is rich in rare earth elements and critical minerals, crucial for high-tech manufacturing and green technologies.

• During recent engagements in Washington, Pakistan’s leadership reportedly showcased samples of these minerals to US officials in an attempt to secure American investment.
• The proposal reflects a shift in Pakistan’s economic diplomacy — reoffering projects once promised to China now to the United States.

This “resource diplomacy” underlines Islamabad’s efforts to diversify partnerships amid economic distress and debt dependence on China.

Domestic Political Motivations

The overtures toward Washington also have domestic political undertones.

• The civil–military establishment, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir, faces questions of legitimacy and stability at home.
• Closer ties with the US are seen as a way to gain international backing and financial relief.
• However, the leadership’s willingness to reconsider Pakistan’s stance on issues like recognition of Israel under the Abraham Accords has invited domestic criticism for allegedly compromising national principles and Palestinian solidarity without parliamentary approval.

Regional Reactions and Strategic Fallout

China’s Concerns

• Beijing views the Pasni initiative as undermining CPEC and encroaching upon its sphere of influence.
• A potential US presence near Gwadar and close to Xinjiang’s western frontier could be perceived as a strategic encirclement.

Iran’s Apprehensions

• Pasni’s proximity to the Iranian border raises concerns in Tehran, which already faces tensions with the US.
• The project could alter the regional balance and complicate Iran’s trade interests via Chabahar.

India’s Calculations

• India’s Chabahar Port project could lose strategic relevance if the Pasni initiative attracts significant US investment and attention.
• The US’s ambiguous stance on the Chabahar sanctions waiver further limits India’s operational space in the region.

Afghanistan’s Position

• The Taliban government may cautiously welcome US economic engagement but will resist any renewed American military presence, such as at Bagram Airbase.

Security Implications: Risk of Regional Instability

Balochistan already faces persistent challenges, including:

• Baloch insurgency,
• Militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and
• Ethnic and sectarian tensions.

Introducing American infrastructure and personnel into this volatile setting could exacerbate local grievances and trigger a new phase of proxy competition between the US and China.
Such dynamics risk turning Balochistan into a geostrategic flashpoint and further destabilising Pakistan’s internal security landscape