Overview

• President Trump announced on August 2 that the US and Pakistan will collaborate to develop Pakistan’s oil reserves and is in the process of selecting the oil company to lead the partnership.
• Baloch leader Mir Yar Baloch published an open letter contesting Pakistan’s claim, asserting that the region’s oil, natural gas, copper, lithium, uranium and rare earth minerals lie within the Republic of Balochistan and not Pakistan.
• He accused Pakistan’s military leadership, especially General Asim Munir, of having “gravely misled” President Trump about the true geography and ownership of these resources.
• The letter warns that exploiting Balochistan’s reserves under Pakistani control could strengthen Pakistan’s military alongside the ISI, fueling global security risks.
• Despite the letter, the Trump administration has not revised its energy partnership plan, leaving the US process of choosing an oil partner underway.