Tara Chand, President of the Baloch American Congress, has written to US President Donald Trump, urging his administration to withhold support for mineral extraction agreements in Balochistan negotiated through Pakistani authorities without the 'free and informed' consent of the Baloch people and verifiable human rights safeguards. The letter, sent from Washington on 15 October 2026, raises urgent questions about the human cost of proposed US commercial engagement in one of South Asia's most contested regions.

What the Letter Demands

Chand called on the Trump administration to withhold US government support, financing, and guarantees for mineral projects in Balochistan that lack meaningful Baloch consent. He also urged Washington to back an impartial international investigation into alleged abuses in the province and to press for accountability and protection of peaceful advocates.

He specifically urged Natalie A. Baker, the US Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad, and the US Department of State to engage directly with independent Baloch representatives, human rights defenders, and affected communities — arguing that assurances from Islamabad cannot substitute for the voices of those directly impacted.

Human Rights Concerns Cited

Chand's letter catalogues a pattern of alleged abuses by Pakistani authorities in Balochistan, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and the suppression of peaceful political activity. He called for independent investigations into these alleged violations, stressing that the province's human rights situation must inform any decision involving American investment in the region.

'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,' Chand stated in his letter.

The CPEC Parallel and What It Signals

Chand drew an explicit parallel with Chinese investments under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Balochistan, warning that projects imposed without meaningful local consent risk deepening resentment and instability. He urged the US to study those grievances before making commitments of its own — a pointed reference to criticism that CPEC benefited Islamabad and Beijing while bypassing Baloch communities.

Notably, the letter references a 30 September 2026 interview by Baker, publicised by the US Embassy in Pakistan, as the backdrop for growing American 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 stated.

The Self-Determination Argument

Beyond the immediate investment question, Chand maintained that Balochistan was forcibly incorporated into Pakistan and that the Baloch people have been denied their right to self-determination. 'Balochistan is our homeland. Its natural wealth is the inheritance of its people, not a bargaining asset for Pakistan's political and military leadership,' he wrote.

This comes amid a broader international conversation about resource sovereignty in conflict-affected regions, and as Washington seeks to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from China. The letter represents a direct attempt to insert Baloch voices into that geopolitical calculus before any formal agreements are concluded.