Pakistan Army Chief Proposes U.S. Investment in Arabian Sea Port

October 4, 2025

Advisers to Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have approached U.S. officials with a plan for American investors to build and operate a port in Pasni, a town in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, to access the country’s mineral resources, according to a report by the Financial Times.

The proposal follows a September meeting between Munir, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. During the talks, Sharif encouraged U.S. investment in Pakistan’s agriculture, technology, mining, and energy sectors. The port plan, which excludes U.S. military use, includes financing for a rail corridor linking the terminal to mineral-rich western provinces.

This move comes as U.S.-Pakistan relations warm under Trump’s second term, a shift from the distance maintained by former President Joe Biden due to Pakistan’s ties with the Taliban. Last month’s White House meeting focused on regional security and counter-terrorism, with Sharif praising Trump’s leadership in securing a ceasefire between Pakistan and India.

Bilateral trade is also growing, with U.S.-Pakistan goods and services trade reaching $10.1 billion in 2024, up 6.3% from 2023. U.S. goods exports to Pakistan hit $2.1 billion, while imports totaled $5.1 billion, resulting in a $3 billion trade deficit.

The proposal signals Pakistan’s push for stronger economic ties with the U.S., leveraging its strategic location and resources.

Source: Financial Times, Reuters, AFP, PTI