Pasni port deal would pivot Pakistan from China to US

Imran Khurshid

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US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the White House, September 25, 2025. Picture: The White House

Pakistan’s reported proposal to grant the United States a development and management role at Pasni port, as reported by the Financial Times, marks one of the most consequential geopolitical developments in recent years.

Situated along the Arabian Sea – just 113 kilometers from China-operated Gwadar port, 161 km from Iran and approximately 286.5 km from India’s Chabahar port – Pasni’s geostrategic position places it at the intersection of major regional rivalries involving China, India, Iran, the United States and other key actors such as Saudi Arabia and Gulf investors.

The port’s location also carries implications for Afghanistan, Central Asia and broader maritime security in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

This development follows the September 25 meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Army Chief General Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump, signaling a potential new phase in US-Pakistan geostrategic engagement.

The proposal, which had already been floated and discussed with US officials before the meeting, is part of Islamabad’s broader attempt to diversify its foreign partnerships, reduce reliance on Beijing and attract US, Iranian, and Saudi investments amid deepening economic challenges.

While significant, the plan remains exploratory, with no formal agreement yet confirmed by either Pakistan or the US. However, if realized, it would mark a geopolitical earthquake, reshaping regional power dynamics with implications far beyond.

New Strategic Pivot

The blueprint envisions transforming Pasni — currently a modest fishing town — into a strategic logistics and mineral export hub. The project aims to link the port to Balochistan’s vast mineral reserves, including the Reko Diq copper and gold mines, through a new railway network. Estimated at US$1.2 billion, the project is expected to be financed through a combination of Pakistani federal funds and US-backed development finance.