Baloch Activist Mir Yar Baloch Warns President Trump: “Pakistan Misleading US on Ownership of Oil Reserves”
Washington DC / Quetta | August 1, 2025 —Just hours after former US President Donald Trump announced a strategic partnership with Pakistan to help develop its “massive oil reserves,” leading Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch issued a strong rebuttal, warning the US administration that Islamabad is gravely misleading Washington about the true location and ownership of these natural resources.
In a sharply worded statement addressed to the American leadership, Mir Yar Baloch emphasized that the vast oil, natural gas, and mineral reserves are not located in Punjab, but in Balochistan — a historically sovereign region under what he called the “illegal occupation” of Pakistan.
Trump’s Announcement Ignites Controversy
Former President Trump, in a post shared on his proprietary social media platform Truth Social, declared that the United States and Pakistan had finalized a deal to jointly develop the country’s massive energy reserves, calling it a “win-win” for economic growth and regional stability.
Trump wrote:
“We’ve reached a historic energy development agreement with Pakistan. Massive untapped oil reserves. American energy expertise meets opportunity in South Asia. Big moment!”
While the announcement was celebrated in some diplomatic and business circles, it drew sharp condemnation from Baloch activists and human rights advocates, who claim that the proposed energy partnership violates the rights of the Baloch people.
Mir Yar Baloch: “Balochistan Is Not for Sale”
Reacting swiftly to Trump’s post, Mir Yar Baloch wrote an open letter and issued a public statement saying:
“Your recognition of the existence of vast oil and mineral reserves is indeed accurate. However, these resources are not located within the territories of Punjab — the actual Pakistan — but in the Republic of Balochistan, a historically sovereign nation currently under illegal occupation by Pakistan.”
He added:
“The claim that these resources belong to Pakistan is not only false but a deliberate attempt to misappropriate Balochistan’s wealth for political and financial gain.”
Warning Against Empowering Pakistan's Military and ISI
In a strong rebuke, the Baloch leader cautioned the US against enabling Pakistan’s military establishment and its notorious intelligence agency, ISI, by granting them access to Balochistan’s trillion-dollar mineral wealth, including rare earths, copper, uranium, lithium, and oil.
“Allowing Pakistan’s radicalised military and rogue ISI — known for sponsoring Al-Qaeda and various proxy groups responsible for the deaths of thousands of US soldiers in Afghanistan — to exploit Balochistan’s resources would be a grave strategic mistake.”
Mir Yar Baloch warned that such a move would strengthen global terror networks, allowing ISI to recruit militants and potentially orchestrate large-scale terror attacks reminiscent of 9/11.
Profits Will Fuel Regional Instability, Not Prosperity
The Baloch activist further argued that any revenue generated from Balochistan’s natural resources would not benefit its indigenous population, but instead be redirected towards strengthening anti-India and anti-Israel jihadist proxies.
“The profits from Balochistan’s stolen resources would be funnelled into arms, terror training camps, and the promotion of radical ideologies aimed at destabilising South Asia and the international order.”
He urged the international community, particularly the US, to see through Pakistan’s geopolitical manipulations and support the legitimate aspirations of the Baloch people.
A Call for Justice and Sovereignty
In the final section of his statement, Mir Yar Baloch reaffirmed the non-negotiable stance of the Baloch people on sovereignty and territorial integrity:
“There is no doubt: Balochistan is not for sale. 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. Our sovereignty is non-negotiable, and our struggle for rightful ownership and independence continues with dignity and resilience.”
He called on President Trump and the global community to stand with the Baloch cause, which he framed not only as a fight for justice but as a critical pillar of global security and democratic values.
Background: Balochistan’s Unresolved Struggle
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and resource-richest province, has long been home to a simmering separatist movement. Many Baloch nationalists consider their region to be occupied territory since its controversial accession to Pakistan in 1948.
The province holds a strategic location along the Arabian Sea and is home to the Gwadar Port, a key asset in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Despite its immense natural wealth, Balochistan remains one of the poorest and most underdeveloped regions in South Asia.
Frequent allegations have surfaced about the Pakistani military's human rights abuses, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings of Baloch activists, prompting international human rights organisations to raise alarms.
Growing International Attention
Mir Yar Baloch’s statement is the latest in a series of efforts by the Baloch diaspora to internationalise their cause, especially targeting Western governments and companies that may engage with Islamabad on resource extraction.
In recent years, Baloch groups have held protests in London, Geneva, and Washington DC, urging Western nations to withhold support from Pakistan’s military regime and reconsider deals that disregard Balochistan’s sovereignty.
Final Thoughts from The Trending People
The dispute over resource ownership in Balochistan has re-entered global headlines at a time when energy diplomacy is redefining regional geopolitics. Mir Yar Baloch’s impassioned appeal to President Trump highlights a deeper crisis — one where strategic interests clash with human rights and self-determination.
As the United States seeks new energy partnerships, voices like Mir Yar’s remind policymakers that not all deals come without consequences. Supporting democratic aspirations over authoritarian alliances may ultimately be the more sustainable and secure path forward.