Islamabad, Oct 31 (NationPress) Pakistan's foreign policy achievements will remain tenuous unless the nation addresses internal governance issues, regional disparities, and political distrust, according to a recent report.

The report highlights Islamabad's recent engagement with Washington, which revolves around providing access to rare earth minerals, many of which are found in the unstable province of Balochistan.

As reported by Al Jazeera, although this agreement appears beneficial—attracting investment for Pakistan while offering the US essential resources—the reality is far more troubling.

Balochistan continues to be Pakistan's most impoverished province despite years of resource extraction. Infrastructure projects remain underutilized, airports are deserted, and the unemployment rate remains alarmingly high. The Balochistan Mines and Minerals Act 2025, enacted by the provincial assembly in March, has exacerbated discontent. This legislation grants Islamabad formal authority to suggest mining policies and licensing in Balochistan, igniting opposition across the political landscape,” the report elaborated.

Critics contend that this undermines provincial autonomy and centralizes control in Islamabad. Even right-wing religious factions like the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F), typically at odds with nationalist movements, have voiced dissent, framing the law as another attempt to dispossess local communities of their rightful access to the province’s resources.

Highlighting the significance of this backlash, the report warns that exploitative resource extraction without local engagement breeds resentment and insurgency in Balochistan.

By courting foreign investment in its mineral sector absent adequate social protections, Pakistan risks further alienating a province already marked by conflict and militarization—what may seem like progress in Islamabad could be viewed as dispossession in Quetta.

The report asserts that these elements indicate that Pakistan's shift in foreign policy is more a response to external pressures than a genuine renaissance. Factors such as the Afghan vacuum, the recalibration of US-India relations, and the allure of mineral diplomacy all contribute to Islamabad's newfound visibility. However, these do not alleviate the underlying vulnerabilities. Washington may once again view Pakistan as expendable if priorities shift. India's influence in US strategy is not diminishing. Furthermore, Balochistan's grievances will only intensify if resource agreements continue to be exploitative and exclusive.

The report concludes that the accolades in Riyadh, the visibility at the Gaza summit, and the diplomatic gestures in Washington do not constitute a strategic revival for Islamabad.

Ultimately, no defense treaty or mineral deal can replace the necessity of a stable social contract within Pakistan itself. This is the true revival that Pakistan is still awaiting,” the report emphasized.