Context: In a significant geopolitical development, Pakistan has proposed allowing the United States to build and operate a commercial deep-water port at Pasni, Balochistan. The move is aimed at exporting critical minerals such as copper and rare earths, marking a strategic shift in Pakistan’s foreign and economic policy posture.
About the Port of Pasni
The Port of Pasni is a small but strategic deep-water harbour located in the Gwadar district of Balochistan. It houses a fish harbour, a cargo jetty, and a Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) base.
Originally designed for fisheries and coastal trade, it has now gained attention as a potential mineral export terminal under Pakistan’s new proposal to the US.
Location and Strategic Setting
- Situated on the Arabian Sea, approximately 70 miles east of the China-operated Gwadar Port and 100 miles from the Iran-Pakistan border.
- Roughly 300 km from India’s Chabahar Port in Iran, forming part of an emerging maritime triangle:
- Chabahar (India–Iran)
- Gwadar (China–Pakistan)
- Pasni (US–Pakistan)
This triangle could redefine power dynamics in the North Arabian Sea, where regional and global interests intersect.
Aim of the Proposal
- Reduce dependence on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by engaging US investment.
- Promote commercial cooperation in the extraction and export of critical minerals like copper, antimony, and neodymium, which are essential for green technologies, electronics, and defence applications.
- Position Pakistan as a critical-mineral transit hub, diversifying its economic partnerships beyond China and Gulf economies.
Key Features
- Estimated investment: $1.2 billion through joint funding by the Pakistani government and US private investors.
- Infrastructure plans: Rail and road connectivity to the Reko Diq mineral belt, along with modern cargo-handling terminals and logistics facilities.
- Official stance: The project is described as purely commercial and non-military, intended to promote economic growth and regional trade.
Strategic and Economic Implications
- For Pakistan: Offers a potential economic boost and strategic balance vis-à-vis China by attracting Western investment.
- For the United States: Provides a foothold near China’s Gwadar and Iran’s Chabahar, enhancing its presence in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- For India: Raises strategic and maritime concerns, as Pasni’s proximity to Chabahar could influence surveillance, logistics, and regional trade routes.
- For the Region: Adds a new dimension to the Indo-Pacific strategic framework, where economic and security interests overlap.
Significance
If operationalised, the Port of Pasni could transform into a key node in global critical mineral supply chains, while also intensifying great-power competition in South Asia’s maritime sphere.