Pakistan has offered the United States the opportunity to build and operate a civilian port at Pasni, in Balochistan’s Gwadar district, strategically close to India’s Chabahar port in Iran, as it seeks to deepen ties with Washington under the Trump administration.
The proposal, reportedly valued at up to $1.2 billion, was reportedly presented by advisers to Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir to top US officials. The plan envisages a terminal at the port to facilitate access to Pakistan’s mineral resources, while explicitly ruling out military use.
Pasni, a port town bordering Afghanistan and Iran, would also be connected via a proposed rail network to Pakistan’s mineral-rich western provinces, enhancing its logistical and trade value for the US. The development comes shortly after Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Trump at the White House in September, where investment in mining and energy sectors was discussed.
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Viral images showed Munir presenting Trump with a wooden box containing rare earth minerals, highlighting Pakistan’s mineral wealth. A US metals company also signed a $500 million deal to explore strategic minerals in Pakistan for defence and technology applications.
“Pasni’s proximity to Iran and Central Asia would enhance America’s options for trade and expand US influence in the Arabian Sea and Central Asia,” the report noted.
Pakistan already operates the Gwadar port with Chinese investment. Pasni lies approximately 100 km from Gwadar and 300 km from India’s Chabahar terminal, where India has been developing the Shahid Beheshti terminal to access Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
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