New port idea never officially discussed: security official

RAWALPINDI:

A senior security official has said that Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir does not have any advisers in an official capacity.

The statement came a day after the British daily - Financial Times (FT) referred to so-called ‘advisers to Field Marshal Asim Munir’ in a report on a new proposed port along the Arabian Sea.

The official stated, “Conversations or proposals by private individuals or commercial entities are exploratory and should not be construed as state initiatives.”

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According to the FT report, the plan envisions American investors building and operating a terminal in Pasni, Balochistan, designed to facilitate access to Pakistan’s critical mineral resources.

The security official explained that a concept of port on southern coast also surfaced in private discussions with Mota Engil Group. “It has not been submitted through official channels, has not been reviewed at any strategic or governmental level, and remains a commercial idea pending appropriate consideration.”

The FT report referred to high-level meetings in the United States during the month of September, during which Field Marshal Munir accompanied Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the White House for talks with US President Donald Trump. During the meeting, the prime minister invited American companies to invest in Pakistan’s key sectors including agriculture, technology, mining, and energy.

According to the FT report, the port proposal was floated with some US officials and was shared with Field Marshal Munir ahead of the White House meeting.

The blueprint excludes the use of the port for the US military purposes and instead aims to attract development finance for a rail network linking the proposed terminal to mineral-rich western provinces, the report added.

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The security official said, “The [FT] piece acknowledges, it is not an official policy, yet implies a link to the army chief — which is not accurate.”

Meanwhile, security sources said that Pakistan manages its foreign relations, including those with global powers, based on its national and public interests. Every decision the country makes, and will continue to make, is guided by its own interests, they added.

The security sources stressed that the development of the mineral and mining sector requires strategic patience and significant investment. Pakistan plans to explore its mineral reserves in collaboration with various countries, companies, and investors. “Whether it’s China, the United States, Saudi Arabia, or any other country interested in participating, Pakistan will enter partnerships based on its interests and ground realities.”

On the question of recognising Israel as a state following any potential peace deal on Gaza, the security sources made it clear: “There has been no change in Pakistan’s longstanding policy regarding Israel. Pakistan is not recognising Israel.”

In line with Pakistan’s principled stance, there can be no discussion on the matter until a just and lasting solution is reached and the oppressed Palestinian people are granted their full rights, the sources added.

“Pakistan’s immediate priority is to stress for immediate stop to the ongoing genocide and massacre in Gaza, and unhindered supply of humanitarian aid to the oppressed people,” the sources added.

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The sources also pointed to a major challenge in the fight against terrorism. “Some political elements maintain ties with terrorists and criminal networks, which hampers counterterrorism efforts,” they said.

“Thanks to effective strategy, security forces have largely dismantled the nexus between smuggling and terrorism,” the sources said. “However, complete eradication will only be possible through full and sincere implementation of the National Action Plan. For that, all stakeholders and every unit of the state must fulfill their responsibilities.”

With additional input from Reuters