From the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to mining projects like Reko Diq and Saindak, all were hailed as “game-changers” for Balochistan which were meant to alter the destiny of the province. However, these claims have largely remained hollow, as the province continues to be gripped by the wave of deprivation and marginalization.

Now, another so-called game-changer project is reportedly on the horizon. According to a report published by the Financial Times, Pakistani officials have approached US authorities regarding a proposed port at Pasni with an estimated cost of $1.2 billion. The project would supposedly permit American investors to develop and operate the port, potentially providing them access to Pakistan's mineral sector.

Superpower Contest

The United States is demonstrating avid interest in rare earth and critical minerals across the world, from Canada and Australia to Indonesia and Mongolia, and now Pakistan. These minerals are vital for sophisticated technology, renewable energy and manufacturing operations. This raises a pressing concern: will Pakistan surrender its critical minerals to the US?

Pasni is a small fishing town situated in District Gwadar, Balochistan, on the Makran coast, located just 110 km from Gwadar Port, where China has already invested massively under the umbrella of CPEC. The abrupt proposition of a port could trigger an intense geopolitical rivalry in the region between China and the US, as the quest for global superpower contest between them is already at its peak.

Most significantly, Iran is only 160 km away from the fishing city. The presence of the US in Pasni could spark a severe war-like scenario between the US and Iran in Balochistan, rendering thousands of lives in jeopardy, given their recent military confrontation over Iran's nuclear programme.

Deepen Local Alienation

What is more worrying is that neither the Pakistani government nor relevant authorities have officially confirmed or denied these developments. The initiative is being termed as “preliminary”; yet the Financial Times is a credible newspaper whose sources can be trusted. The doubts regarding the reports should be cleared through official statements.

The US interest in Balochistan is likely driven by three primary objectives: containing China, supervising Iran's nuclear programme, and leveraging Balochistan's geographic location for access to the Arabian Sea, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

CPEC has already badly failed to live up to the expectations of the people of Balochistan, which was supposed to be a harbinger of economic prosperity for the inhabitants of the province. Another government-backed project in the guise of exploiting critical minerals without political transparency or public consultations would further deepen the sense of alienation in the province.

Government Should Clarify

Handing over strategic projects in Balochistan to China or the US raises serious concerns of neo-colonialism. Both states pursue imperialist designs and expansionist ambitions to protect their own interests, which could further inflame the insurgency and unrest in the province. The state is playing with fire and must carefully reconsider its approach to such a sensitive region.

Ergo, the government should break its silence, clarify the details surrounding the proposed port, ensure full transparency, and take all stakeholders, including the people of Balochistan, into confidence. Any project in the province must prioritize public consensus and inclusive decision-making; otherwise, it would end up becoming another epitome of empty promises, much like the CPEC.

(The writer is a freelance contributor based in Quetta, Balochistan. Views expressed are personal. He can be reached at mannansaamad@gmail.com )