In a striking geopolitical shift, advisers close to Pakistan’s military leadership have proposed building a new port at Pasni on the Arabian Sea, pitching it to US officials as a gateway for critical mineral exports and as a strategic foothold for Washington in South Asia. 

Though this proposal is not official government policy, it reflects Pakistan’s intention to diversify beyond its close strategic ties with China. By offering the United States an entry in the Arabian Sea, Islamabad hopes to rebalance influence in the region. The port is planned near Gwadar where China already has a major presence and is aimed at transporting minerals like copper, antimony, and rare earths. 

The projected cost is 1.2 billion dollar. The plan also includes linking the port with inland railway connections to mineral-rich zones such as Reko Diq. The idea is to transform Pasni into a hub not just for trade, but for strategic leverage in the maritime domain. 

US officials have reportedly received the proposal, though top-level engagement is lacking. A senior American source confirmed the idea has not reached the Oval Office or its advisors in any formal manner. Observers see the move as part of Pakistan’s broader push to reset ties with Washington through economic and strategic cooperation rather than purely security dependence. 

For Islamabad, this port plan is meant to signal that it is not bound solely to China. It also tries to accentuate its untapped mineral potential currently contributing a modest share to GDP and attract international investment. But skeptics caution about viability, sovereignty, and dual-use concerns, especially given geopolitical rivalries in the region.

If executed, this initiative could reshape maritime power equations in South Asia, challenge Chinese dominance at Gwadar, and inject fresh complexity into India-Pakistan and US-China dynamics. But for now, Pasni remains more promise than reality its success will depend on funding, diplomacy, regional acceptance, and how willing the US is to step in.