Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir visit the White House. Source: PTI
The Hindustan Times published an article titled "Pakistan's Military, Pasni Port, and Selling to the US" on October 18, 2025, stating that Pakistan plans to open Pasni Port to the US, transforming itself into a key mineral transport corridor. However, the project is unreasonable both strategically and commercially—reflecting Pakistan's urgent demand to escape its geopolitical dilemma, but facing multiple obstacles such as funding, geopolitical rivalry, and security issues, with an overall bleak outlook. The author, Tara Kartha, is the Director of Research and Analysis (R&A) at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) and former Director of the National Security Council (NSC) in India.
Recent information indicates that Pakistan is considering proposing to the US to develop Pasni Port, turning it into a key mineral transportation route. According to the Financial Times, Pakistan has not yet negotiated with the US, but discussions have taken place with the business community. This information has not been confirmed, more of a desperate move by Pakistan under the pressure of tense situations at the Afghan border and frequent unrest by right-wing parties domestically. It lacks reasonable commercial returns, does not meet US strategic interests, and faces threats from terrorism, making the project ultimately difficult to implement.
Firstly, the economic feasibility of the project is seriously insufficient. It is reported that the construction and development cost of the port is approximately $1.2 billion, and Pakistan will bear at least half of it. However, given Pakistan's current financial situation, it may be difficult to afford. The U.S. Strategic Metals (USSM) signed a $500 million agreement with the Frontier Works Organization (FWO), which is operated by the Pakistani military. However, this amount is only a small part of the total cost, and commercial institutions lack motivation to invest.
Secondly, the infrastructure and security of the project are weak. The head of USSM said that the main reason for choosing Pasni Port is its proximity to the Barrick Mining Corporation's Ricochet gold-copper deposit, located between Karachi and Gwadar Port. However, Gwadar Port, which is intended as a trade port, has been idle for years, with less than seven ships docking annually. Pakistan has not established roads or railways to optimize the port. More importantly, international capital is cautious about mineral development in this area: although the region is rich in gold and copper deposits, the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan has deterred foreign investment, making the security of the project development uncertain. Currently, Saudi Arabia has abandoned negotiations to fund Barrick's gold-copper mine.
Thirdly, the geopolitical background involved in the project is too complex. An assessment by the Pakistan Institute of Maritime Studies shows that if another war breaks out, the Indian Navy may attack major ports including Pasni Port, and bringing in the US could protect the port and Gwadar Port. However, this request is difficult to achieve: on one hand, Pasni Port is far from the main combat areas between India and Pakistan, and even if the US military is stationed at Pasni Port, it would be difficult to influence Indian military operations. On the other hand, China-Pakistan military cooperation is close, and the US may not want its equipment exposed to Chinese view. In addition, the US may not see profit in the project. The Trump administration pursued a "transactional" diplomacy, and the US already has about 10 safer bases in the Middle East. The Pasni Port project may face the threat of terrorist attacks, and the electricity supply in the Makran region where Pasni Port is located is provided by Iran, which is not a profitable deal for the US.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7564981037650985499/
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