Facing China’s shadow, Pakistan denies offering Pasni port to Trump: 'Beijing more important than anyone else'

Pakistan’s government has been forced into damage control after a report by the Financial Times claimed that advisers to Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir had approached U.S. officials with an offer to build and operate a port on the Arabian Sea. The report suggested that the proposal, seen by the newspaper, would allow American investors to develop a terminal in Pasni, a coastal town in Balochistan’s Gwadar district, to access Pakistan’s critical minerals.

Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, a top Pakistani security official dismissed the report, calling it “flawed” and “based on speculation.” The official said, “The FT story has flaws and is based on speculation. No port near Gwadar has been offered to someone else. China is more important than anyone else.”

Denial amid deepening China dependency

Pakistan’s sharp reaction underscores its growing anxiety about how Beijing views any potential American involvement near Gwadar, the crown jewel of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The official insisted that “Pakistan is committed to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). No port or any other national asset were offered to the US. Pakistan is working on its mineral and investments policies, which will be made public. No draft of the policy has been finalised yet.”

CPEC, launched in 2013 under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), links Gwadar port to China’s Xinjiang province through an extensive network of highways, railways, and energy projects. Many of these developments, including industrial zones in Bostan, Mohmand, and Gilgit-Baltistan, are managed with close Chinese oversight. Analysts say any hint of U.S. entry into Pakistan’s infrastructure or mineral sector could irritate Beijing, which sees Gwadar as central to its regional strategy.

Army’s expanding role in resource deals

Despite the official denial, CNN-News18 has learned that Pakistan’s powerful military has taken an unusually active role in promoting its mineral sector to Washington. Sources confirmed that Asim Munir personally presented rare earth samples to former U.S. President Donald Trump during a recent Oval Office meeting, a move that bypassed Pakistan’s Foreign Office and civilian ministries. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who stood alongside Munir during the presentation, later described Trump as a “man of peace” for his “sincere efforts” to end global conflicts.

The optics of the meeting have sparked controversy in Islamabad. Lawmakers from multiple parties, including the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have accused the military of “economic overreach” and bypassing constitutional authority. Several parliamentarians questioned the secrecy surrounding the memorandum of understanding signed with U.S. firm US Strategic Metals (USSM), which involves exploration and processing of rare earths.

‘Violation of the 18th Amendment’

Critics argue that the military’s dominance in economic negotiations violates Pakistan’s federal structure. Lawmakers told CNN-News18 that the Army’s direct involvement in mineral exports and investment agreements is “a violation of the 18th Amendment,” which grants provincial governments control over natural resources. They warned that such opaque, military-led deals undermine Pakistan’s sovereignty and risk alienating China, its most crucial economic patron.

Analysts see the episode as another sign of Pakistan’s eroding civilian authority and increasing desperation for Western recognition. Even as Islamabad publicly reaffirms loyalty to China’s CPEC projects, its Army continues to court Washington through mineral diplomacy -- an approach that could further strain Pakistan’s already fragile political and economic foundations.