PASNI – A proposal for the United States to develop a deep-sea port in Pasni, Pakistan, has set the stage for a significant geopolitical contest, potentially fuelling regional tensions with China and India.
The plan, reportedly pitched by Pakistani officials to Washington, seeks American investment to transform the fishing town in Balochistan into a strategic hub for exporting critical minerals.
The proposed port, with an estimated cost of $1.2 billion, is envisioned as a commercial gateway for minerals essential for electric vehicles, batteries, and defence technology, such as copper, antimony, and neodymium.
This initiative follows a recent $500 million memorandum of understanding between Missouri-based US Strategic Metals and the Pakistani military’s engineering arm, with a trial shipment of minerals already sent to the United States.
A US commercial director involved described the collaboration as an effort to “rekindle a dormant friendship” between the two nations.
A Strategic Challenge to China
The location of Pasni, just 113 kilometres from the Chinese-operated port of Gwadar, makes the proposal particularly sensitive.
Gwadar is the flagship project of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a cornerstone of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, into which China has poured over $60 billion.
A US commercial and strategic foothold at Pasni is seen as a direct challenge to China’s vision for the region, potentially undermining years of Chinese investment and strategic planning aimed at securing access to the Arabian Sea.
For China, the move represents a strategic betrayal by its long-standing “all-weather” partner. It signals Islamabad’s willingness to prioritise immediate financial incentives from Washington, especially after Beijing indicated it could not fund certain sections of CPEC, leading Pakistan to seek alternative financing.
Regional Ripples and Pakistan’s Balancing Act
The geopolitical implications extend beyond US-China rivalry. For India, a US presence at Pasni complicates its own strategic connectivity projects, such as the Chabahar port in Iran, which lies approximately 286 kilometres away.
The development could strengthen Pakistan’s geopolitical confidence and provide the US with enhanced influence in a maritime region where India has vital interests.
Iran is also likely to view the port with alarm, as it offers Washington a potential platform to monitor Iranian coastal activities and shipping lanes.
The broader region, including Afghanistan and Central Asia, would be affected by the new logistics corridor.
Islamabad has framed the Pasni initiative as “strategic diversification” and a pivot towards economic diplomacy.
It demonstrates Pakistan’s attempt to balance its relations with both Washington and Beijing without completely abandoning its partnership with China.
However, this calculated gamble highlights a fundamental truth of modern geopolitics: in an age of great-power rivalry, alliances built on interest rather than trust are inherently fluid and can quickly reshape regional dynamics.
Sources: SCMP, Asia Times, The Diplomat