Baloch activist Tara Chand urges Donald Trump to withhold US support for Balochistan mineral deals without local consent and credible human rights safeguards…reports Asian Lite News Desk
A Baloch activist has urged US President Donald Trump to withhold American government support for mineral extraction agreements in Balochistan unless they receive the “free and informed” consent of local people and include credible human rights safeguards. Tara Chand, president of the Baloch American Congress, has also called for independent investigations into alleged abuses by Pakistani authorities in the province.
In a letter to Trump, Chand raised concerns over alleged enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions and restrictions on peaceful political activity in Balochistan. He said the human rights situation should be considered in any decision involving American investment in the region.
Chand also maintained that Balochistan had been forcibly incorporated into Pakistan and that the Baloch people had been denied their right to self-determination.
“For families searching for missing loved ones, promises of mineral development offer little reassurance without justice, safety, and respect for their rights. Economic agreements must never reward repression or give those accused of abuses greater resources and legitimacy,” he stated.
The activist’s appeal comes amid growing interest in Pakistan’s mineral sector. Referring to an interview in Islamabad featuring Natalie A. Baker, the US Chargé d’Affaires, publicised by the US Embassy in Pakistan on September 30, 2026, Chand urged the Trump administration to examine the implications of potential investment agreements.
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“I write with reference to the recent interview in Islamabad featuring Natalie A. Baker, US Charge d’Affaires, publicised by the US Embassy on September 30, 2026. Against the backdrop of growing interest in Pakistan’s mineral sector, I urge your administration to examine whose land and resources are being offered, who would benefit, and whether the affected people have any meaningful voice in these decisions,” the letter mentioned.
“Balochistan is our homeland. Its natural wealth is the inheritance of its people, not a bargaining asset for Pakistan’s political and military leadership,” it added.
Chand called on Baker and the US Department of State to engage directly with independent Baloch representatives, human rights defenders and communities affected by proposed projects. He argued that assurances from Islamabad could not substitute for the views of people whose land and resources could be involved.
He also urged Washington to examine grievances linked to Chinese investment in Balochistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“Projects imposed without meaningful local consent risk deepening resentment and instability. America should learn from those concerns before making commitments of its own,” Chand noted.
The activist called on the US administration to withhold government support, financing and guarantees for mineral projects in Balochistan that lack meaningful consent from the Baloch people and credible human rights protections.
He further urged US authorities to support an impartial international investigation into alleged abuses in the province and press for accountability, as well as protection for peaceful advocates.
Chand’s appeal places local consent and human rights safeguards at the centre of the debate over foreign investment in Balochistan’s mineral resources. It calls on Washington to assess who would benefit from proposed agreements and whether affected communities have a meaningful voice in decisions concerning their land.
