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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has not offered the United States access to a proposed port at Pasni, a senior security official told state-run Pakistan TV on Sunday, saying there had been no official communication with Washington and any discussions on the idea were “purely exploratory.”

The clarification follows a Financial Times report this week that advisers to Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, had approached US officials with a proposal to build and operate a port on the Arabian Sea. The plan reportedly envisions American investors developing and managing a port in the southwestern town of Pasni, located in Balochistan’s Gwadar district, to facilitate access to Pakistan’s critical minerals.

A senior security official told Pakistan TV the report did not represent official government or military policy.

“Conversations with private companies were exploratory, not official initiatives,” the state-run digital outlet quoted him as saying on condition of anonymity.

“There is no plan to hand over Pasni’s security to any foreign power. The Chief of Army Staff does not have advisers in any official capacity. Linking these ideas directly to him is misleading and inaccurate,” he added, saying the army chief should not be directly linked with any such proposals.

Pasni, a small fishing town of about 70,000 people, has long been viewed as a potential site for port development because of its naturally deep waters.

“Pasni’s location may make it significant in global geopolitics … but at this stage, it is only an idea, not an initiative,” the official added. 

The US State Department, White House and Pakistan’s army and foreign ministry have not commented on the FT report.

While the Pakistan TV report said the Pasni port proposal may have been floated by private parties but was never routed through official channels or reviewed at a strategic level, the Financial Times said the proposal was discussed with some US officials and shared with Munir ahead of his meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House late last month.

The report highlighted that the plan does not include any provision for US military bases but sought development financing to build a rail network connecting the port to Pakistan’s mineral-rich western provinces.

China already has a major presence in Gwadar and the Pasni port proposal would offer the US a potential foothold in the region. 

The development could add a new layer to the strategic competition between Washington and Beijing in the Indian Ocean. It may also test Islamabad’s ability to balance its ties with both powers while pursuing much-needed foreign investment. 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India are set to meet today, Sunday, in a much-anticipated encounter at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, though persistent rain in Colombo threatens to disrupt play at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Pakistan are seeking to bounce back after a heavy opening defeat to Bangladesh, while India come in with confidence following their win against Sri Lanka. Forecasts predict intermittent showers throughout the day, and officials have warned that the weather could interrupt or even shorten the match. Heavy rain in Colombo also forced the cancelation of Saturday’s fixture between Sri Lanka and Australia.

India have an unbeaten record against Pakistan in women’s One-Day Internationals, winning all 11 previous encounters. Pakistan will play all their group-stage matches in Colombo, with both the semifinal (Oct. 29) and the final (Nov. 2) also scheduled for the same venue.

The contest comes amid renewed political tension after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suggested its players may again avoid handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts, continuing a policy adopted during the men’s Asia Cup earlier this year.

“I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that country [Pakistan] is the same, there is no change in the last week,” BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia told the BBC. 

“India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed. Whether there will be handshakes, whether there will be hugging, I cannot assure you of anything at this moment.”

His comments follow India’s widely criticized conduct at the Asia Cup 2025, when its men’s team refused pre- and post-match handshakes with Pakistani players and declined to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi, who also chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board and is the country’s interior minister.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana said her team remained focused on performance and unity despite off-field politics.

“Our main goal is to play well. Our relationship with the other teams is good. We will try to fulfil the spirit of the game,” she told reporters on Saturday.

Asked whether she would miss the camaraderie seen during the 2022 World Cup, when Indian players gathered around then-Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof and her infant daughter, Fatima said such gestures were welcome but secondary to performance.

“What happened before, like with Bismah’s daughter, when everyone mingled and enjoyed together — as players, we all like such moments. But the main thing is to stay focused on what we have come here for,” she said.

Trailing India 11-0 in their head-to-head record, Fatima dismissed talk of odds being stacked against her team, insisting Pakistan have the talent to defeat top sides. 

“Records are meant to be broken,” she said.

The tournament runs from September 30 to November 2 across India and Sri Lanka.