Trump’s Oil Pact with Pakistan Fuels New Tensions in Balochistan

Paromita Das

New Delhi, 14th August: In a development with potentially far-reaching consequences, the Trump administration’s designation of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its suicide unit, the Majeed Brigade, as terrorist organizations came just days after Washington announced an ambitious oil partnership with Islamabad. This double move has sparked fears that the volatile, resource-rich province of Balochistan could become the latest theatre of global power politics — where America’s economic ambitions intertwine with Pakistan’s domestic conflicts and its long-standing narrative battle with Bharat.

On August 11, the United States added the BLA and Majeed Brigade to its Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) list, freezing any assets linked to them and banning American entities from contact. The BLA, active in Balochistan for decades, describes its struggle as a fight for self-determination against Pakistani rule — a fight fueled by grievances over political repression, economic exploitation, and cultural marginalization.

While Islamabad brands the BLA’s actions as terrorism, the group insists it is resisting state oppression and the exploitation of local resources by Pakistan’s elite and foreign allies, most notably China. The Majeed Brigade, its fidayeen arm, has carried out high-profile attacks, often targeting Chinese nationals tied to Beijing’s multi-billion-dollar Belt and Road projects in the province.

A History Written in Rebellion and Blood

The Baloch rejection of the US terror tag is grounded in history. Balochistan, once under the Khan of Kalat, briefly enjoyed recognized independence after the British withdrawal in 1947. But in 1948, Pakistan forcibly annexed it, igniting a resistance that has erupted into five insurgencies since.

For the Baloch, the most recent phase of violence — beginning in the early 2000s — has been marked by Pakistan’s “Kill and Dump” policy, disappearances of activists, and extrajudicial killings. While militants have escalated their armed campaign, many Baloch leaders accuse Islamabad of weaponizing extremist proxies like IS-Khurasan to stifle legitimate dissent.

In this context, Washington’s terror designation is seen not as an impartial security measure, but as a move that strengthens Pakistan’s hand in portraying the Baloch cause as foreign-backed militancy, often by pointing fingers at Bharat.

Trump’s Oil Announcement: A New Fault Line

The timing could not be more telling. Mere hours before the terror designation was announced, Donald Trump revealed a joint US-Pakistan initiative to tap into Pakistan’s “massive” oil reserves. While he avoided naming precise locations, much of the country’s untapped energy wealth lies in Balochistan — a province already home to lucrative mining and gas projects, yet suffering from extreme poverty and neglect.

Locals have long argued that Balochistan’s wealth is stripped away to enrich Pakistan’s elite and foreign investors, with little reinvestment in the province. Baloch leaders, including Mir Yar Baloch, have openly warned that US involvement could lead to intensified militarization to protect energy projects, with the costs borne by local communities.

Bharat in the Shadow of the Narrative War

For years, Pakistan has accused Bharat of stoking unrest in Balochistan — allegations that New Delhi strongly denies. Every major attack, from the Chinese consulate assault in 2018 to the Karachi Stock Exchange strike in 2020, has been framed in this narrative. With the US now reinforcing Pakistan’s stance through its terror listing, Islamabad’s claims could find new traction in global forums.

For Bharat, the challenge is twofold: countering what it sees as unfounded accusations, while closely monitoring how US-Pakistan energy cooperation might reshape the security landscape in a province that borders Iran, Afghanistan, and the Arabian Sea.

Balochistan’s Future: A Battle of Resources and Recognition

The dual announcements — terror designation and oil partnership — are more than coincidental. They form a layered strategy where Washington’s counterterrorism agenda aligns with Pakistan’s security goals, potentially sidelining Baloch aspirations.

Balochistan is not just a “troublesome province” but a geopolitical pivot. Its minerals, oil, gas, and strategic location make it a prize for any state or corporation willing to secure it — often at the expense of the people who live there. Ignoring Baloch grievances while ramping up resource extraction risks inflaming the insurgency further, turning the province into a long-term flashpoint.

The Perils of Ignoring the People

If history has taught us anything, it is that resource politics in unstable regions rarely ends well when local voices are excluded. By branding Baloch fighters as terrorists without addressing the decades of oppression that fuel their cause, Washington risks becoming complicit in Pakistan’s cycle of suppression.

Trump’s oil ambitions may promise wealth for Islamabad, but for the Baloch, they could mean more checkpoints, more disappearances, and more violence. Unless there is a parallel push for political dialogue, equitable resource sharing, and respect for Baloch identity, the US could find itself entangled in yet another unwinnable conflict abroad.

A Narrowing Window for Justice

The fate of Balochistan now hangs in a precarious balance. The US-Pakistan oil deal may usher in an era of intensified exploitation under the guise of development, while the terror designation risks delegitimizing a decades-old struggle for rights.

The question is stark: will Balochistan’s future be written by those who live and die on its soil, or by foreign powers and national elites carving it up for profit? Without genuine engagement with the Baloch people, the answer may already be decided — and it will not be in their favor.