According to a report by the New York Times, recent large-scale attacks carried out by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have placed a multibillion-dollar mining initiative between Pakistan and the administration of Donald Trump under significant risk.
The report states that Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, presented gemstones to Donald Trump last year. Shortly afterward, the United States announced plans to invest nearly 1.3 billion dollars in mining projects in Balochistan.
In recent weeks, BLA fighters have carried out a series of intense attacks. On January 31 alone, around 500 armed fighters targeted 12 locations, resulting in at least 58 fatalities.
The New York Times notes that ongoing insecurity and the growing presence of Baloch separatist groups are expected to further disrupt mining operations throughout the region, particularly the Reko Diq project, which is regarded as one of the world’s largest gold and copper reserves.
The United States is reportedly planning to invest up to 2 billion dollars in the project, with expectations of creating thousands of jobs.
Meanwhile, the international mining company Barrick Gold has already reduced its operations in Balochistan due to security concerns.
Analysts warn that if the security situation continues to deteriorate, the project could face significant delays, potentially resulting in substantial financial losses for Pakistan.