Pakistan, a nuclear‑armed country run by the military, relies heavily on IMF loans and Saudi aid. It has also been pushed to meet the United States’ criteria for allies in Asia, but a recent report suggests the nation still falls short of those standards.
The analysts say Pakistani generals use China, the U.S. and Gulf states to their advantage. They view the latest U.S.‑Pakistan talks as another brief chapter in a long series of disappointments. Rather than a quick, transactional tie, Washington needs strategic patience and should look to India for a longer‑term partnership that will shape the Indo‑Pacific.
Pakistan’s latest offer is a billion‑dollar port at Pasni, on the Arabian Sea in Balochistan. Located about 70 miles from China’s Gwadar and a 100‑mile hop from Iran, the port could let the U.S. keep tabs on both rivals. The proposal also highlights the region’s rare‑earth minerals, a key point in reducing America’s dependence on China.
Army chief Asim Munir played up Pakistan’s mineral wealth and the new port during his visit to Washington. According to the report, he handed President Donald Trump a box of rare earths and outlined a “commercial venture” that would also include rail links to Balochistan’s mineral belt—nothing in the deal is purely strategic.
However, the analysts warn that Pakistan’s offer comes with strings. The country’s real goal is to pull Washington away from its growing defense partnership with India, a relationship that underpins U.S. Indo‑Pacific strategy. Every time the U.S. sees itself as a “special” partner of Islamabad, it risks weakening trust with India, the democratic ally that shares its long‑term interests.
In short, Pakistan’s pitch for a new port and mineral connections may glance promising, but U.S. officials need a deeper, more patient partnership—especially one that balances ties with India and supports the broader Indo‑Pacific agenda.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
