'You've been misled by Munir': Baloch leader warns Trump; says oil reserves in Balochistan, not Pak

Following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new trade deal with Pakistan, including plans to tap into what he described as the country’s “massive” oil reserves, Baloch nationalist leader Mir Yar Baloch has issued a scathing rebuttal, warning Washington that it is being misled by Pakistan’s military establishment.

In a strongly worded post on X, Baloch said while Trump was correct in acknowledging the region’s vast wealth -- oil, gas, lithium, uranium, and rare earth minerals -- the US administration had “been gravely misled” by Pakistan’s military leadership, particularly Army Chief General Asim Munir.

According to him, these reserves are not located in Pakistan’s heartland (Punjab), but in the occupied territory of Balochistan, a historically sovereign nation that was annexed by Pakistan in 1948.

“The claim that these resources belong to Pakistan is not only false, it is a deliberate attempt to misappropriate Balochistan’s wealth for political and financial gain,” Baloch wrote.

To the Honorable President of the United States, #BalochistanIsNotPakistan

Your recognition of the vast oil and mineral reserves in the region is indeed accurate. However, with due respect, it is imperative to inform your administration that you have been gravely misled by the… pic.twitter.com/bAMPOYisYK

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— Mir Yar Baloch (@miryar_baloch) July 30, 2025

He accused the Pakistani military and its intelligence agency, the ISI, of attempting to monetize Balochistan’s natural resources to fund jihadist networks, including those responsible for attacks on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

“Allowing Pakistan’s radicalized military and rogue ISI to exploit Balochistan’s trillion-dollar reserves would be a grave strategic mistake,” he warned, arguing that it would empower global terror networks and increase the risk of mass-casualty attacks reminiscent of 9/11.

Baloch also claimed that the profits from such a deal would never reach the Baloch people but would instead be diverted to anti-India and anti-Israel militant proxies, further destabilizing South Asia.

“Our sovereignty is non-negotiable. Balochistan is not for sale,” he wrote. “We will not permit Pakistan, China, or any other foreign power to exploit our land or its resources without the explicit consent of the Baloch people.”

He called upon the international community, and the United States in particular, to recognise Balochistan’s right to self-determination and to treat Pakistan’s territorial claims with scepticism.

“Preventing Pakistan’s exploitation of Balochistan is not just a matter of justice—it is a matter of global security,” he concluded.

Trump announced on Truth Social that the US is in the process of selecting an oil company to lead the partnership and even suggested Pakistan might eventually export that oil to India.

The deal comes alongside mounting trade tensions with India. Just hours earlier, Trump had imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports.