Baloch leader warns Trump over oil and gas exploration in Balochistan, asserts region’s sovereignty
In a dramatic development, Balochistan leader Mir Yar Baloch has issued a stern warning to US President Donald Trump regarding his interest in establishing a massive oil and natural gas plant in Pakistan. In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Baloch cautioned Trump against stepping into any natural resource exploration in the region, claiming that resources like oil, gas, lithium, and uranium belong to Balochistan, not Pakistan. Balochistan’s natural resources: A source of conflict Mir Yar Baloch pointed out that while Trump’s evaluation of the region’s vast oil and mineral resources was accurate, his government had been misled about the geographical ownership of these resources. Baloch asserted that the Pakistani military leadership, particularly General Asim Munir and his diplomatic channels, had intentionally misinformed the US about the true ownership of the resources. According to Baloch, the reserves of oil, natural gas, copper, lithium, uranium, and rare earth minerals are not in Pakistan’s Punjab region, but are located in Balochistan—a historically sovereign nation currently under illegal occupation by Pakistan. He went on to claim that General Munir’s assertion that these resources belong to Pakistan was not only false but was a deliberate attempt to seize Balochistan’s wealth for political and economic gain. Mir Yar Baloch accused the Pakistani military leadership, particularly General Asim Munir and Islamabad’s diplomatic channels, of deliberate misrepresentation to US officials. He warned that President Trump had been “gravely misled” about the geography and sovereignty of these critical resources, describing Pakistan’s claim as “false… a deliberate attempt to misappropriate Balochistan’s wealth for political and financial gain”.
U.S. penalty risk on Russian oil may add $9-11 billion to India’s import bill, analyst say
India’s annual oil import bill could rise by $9-11 billion if the country is compelled to move away from Russian crude in response to U.S. threats of additional tariffs or penalties on Indian exports, analysts said. India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer and importer, has reaped significant benefits by swiftly substituting market-priced oil with discounted Russian crude following Western sanctions on Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian oil, which accounted for less than 0.2% of India’s imports before the war, now makes up 35-40% of the country’s crude intake, helping reduce overall energy import costs, keep retail fuel prices in check, and contain inflation. The influx of discounted Russian crude also enabled India to refine the oil and export petroleum products, including to countries that have imposed sanctions on direct imports from Russia. The twin strategy of Indian oil companies is posting record profits. This is, however, now under threat after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian goods plus an unspecified penalty for buying Russian oil and weapons. The 25% tariff has since been notified, but the penalty is yet to be specified. Coming within days of the European Union banning imports of refined products derived from Russian-origin crude, this presents a double whammy for Indian refiners. Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst (Refining & Modelling) at global real-time data and analytics provider Kpler, termed this as “a squeeze from both ends”. EU sanctions — effective from January 2026 — may force Indian refiners to segment crude intake on one side, and on the other, the U.S. tariff threat raises the possibility of secondary sanctions that would directly hit the shipping, insurance, and financing lifelines underpinning India’s Russian oil trade. “Together, these measures sharply curtail India’s crude procurement flexibility, raise compliance risk, and introduce significant cost uncertainty,” he said.
HPCL signs 10-year LNG supply deal with Abu Dhabi’s ALNG
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has entered into a strategic agreement with Abu Dhabi Gas Liquefaction Company (ALNG), a subsidiary of ADNOC Gas, for the long-term supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) over a 10-year period. The agreement, signed under a Heads of Agreement (HOA), marks a major step in bolstering India’s energy security and advancing HPCL’s clean energy goals. As per the agreement, HPCL will receive LNG at the newly commissioned Chhara LNG Terminal in Gujarat. The imported LNG will be used to meet the fuel requirements of HPCL’s refineries, its City Gas Distribution (CGD) network, and for supplying to downstream customers. ALNG, part of ADNOC Gas, is a globally recognized integrated gas processing and sales company. This collaboration highlights the strengthening energy partnership between India and the UAE, while also supporting India’s broader transition toward cleaner fuels. This 10-year LNG procurement deal is expected to play a key role in meeting India’s growing energy demands while reducing reliance on more carbon-intensive fuels. It reinforces HPCL’s long-term commitment to sustainability and a greener energy future.
India hasn’t given refiners directions to stop buying Russia Oil
India has not issued any directive to its oil refiners to halt purchases of Russian crude, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The decision comes as the Indian government navigates its energy security needs while managing diplomatic ties with Moscow and avoiding further tensions with US President Donald Trump. According to Bloomberg sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, no official decision has been made to stop imports from Russia. Both state-run and private refiners continue to source oil based on commercial considerations, and are permitted to buy from suppliers of their choice.