A U.S. State Department official revealed that the participation of an American diplomatic delegation in the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum is aimed at promoting American interests of both economic and strategic nature.
This statement marks a significant shift, openly clarifying Washington’s real intentions toward Pakistan. Washington’s—specifically the Pentagon’s—interest in Pakistan’s mineral resources is not new. American military leaders privately revealed about fifteen years ago their interest in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s abundant lithium, copper, and gold resources. Although these discussions remained low-profile and out of the public eye, the Trump administration elevated the issue significantly. It is no longer a secret that President Donald Trump’s team, particularly his business-oriented advisers, wants to build an economic partnership with Pakistan centered around its mineral wealth.
According to the State Department official, Pakistan possesses diverse mineral resources that play a crucial role in its economy and can potentially drive significant development. These resources include metallic minerals such as copper, gold, and iron ore; non-metallic minerals like rock salt; and energy resources like coal and natural gas.
Has Pakistan thus become an asset capable of attracting Washington’s alliance? According to the State Department official, the answer is “yes,” given the following reasons:
Pakistan Today Represents Significant Global Economic Potential
- The official acknowledges that Pakistan’s extensive mineral wealth remains largely untapped. For example, the Reko Diq mine in Balochistan is one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper and gold deposits, estimated to contain around six billion tons of ore. Additionally, Pakistan holds substantial reserves of coal, gemstones, and rare earth elements, which could significantly boost Pakistan’s GDP, potentially making the country a global economic power.
- Pakistani minerals like coal and natural gas are vital for energy production, creating a strategic dimension for U.S. corporations.
- The State Department official further states that Pakistan’s mineral wealth could lead to significant job creation and regional development. Sustainable mining activities, particularly if developed by U.S. companies, can generate employment in remote regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reducing poverty and stimulating local economies.
- According to the State Department official, Pakistan has the world’s second-largest salt reserves and the fifth-largest reserves of copper and gold, potentially generating substantial revenue for Islamabad over the next twenty years.
- Conversely, a U.S. Department of Defense official emphasized Pakistan’s geostrategic importance due to its location in a vital area of South Asia and its close relations with China. This factor generates enthusiasm in the U.S. to invest in Pakistan’s mineral resources.
- According to the Pentagon official, minerals in Pakistan are essential for U.S. military technology industries. The Pentagon and defense industry giants like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman increasingly focus on securing critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements essential for advanced technologies—including electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy systems, and military equipment such as drones and silent electric vehicles. The Pentagon believes northern regions of Pakistan hold substantial reserves of lithium, copper, and gold, all essential to electronics and military-industrial infrastructure.
Washington Moves Toward Economic Partnership with Pakistan
The State Department official openly admits that Donald Trump’s team aims to invest in Pakistan’s mineral sector, viewing it as an economic lifeline for Pakistan and the United States—a point made clear by the U.S. delegation’s participation in the recent Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum in Islamabad.
The official added that Pakistan’s mineral resources are strategically significant to the White House due to China’s dominance in global mineral supply chains. The official noted that the U.S. is now seeking to diversify its sources, reduce dependency on China, and strengthen its presence in South Asia.
Pakistani Minerals are a Priority for U.S. National Security
The Defense Department official considers Pakistan’s resources as directly linked to U.S. national security, supporting military technologies and providing secure reserves for American industries.
In this context, the State Department official notes that Pakistan’s struggling economy and rising foreign debt have made Islamabad eager to attract foreign investment. Recognizing this, the United States sees an opportunity to enhance mutual relations and benefit from Pakistan’s resources.
In summary, Pakistan’s minerals are the cornerstone of U.S.-Pakistan relations, offering opportunities for growth and supporting global energy and trade security.
Given these developments, U.S.-Pakistani relations appear poised to simultaneously enter a new phase combining trade and security cooperation.
By Joe Tabet
About the author
Joe Tabet is a Lebanese-American specialized political analyst and journalist based in Washington, D.C., with over two decades of expertise covering U.S. National Security. He was a senior Pentagon and National Security correspondent who covered major domestic and international events relating to U.S. general elections and meetings of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq and Syria against terrorist groups. He founded The Tank Report, where he lobbies for corporations and advocacy groups and provides consultancy and analysis services on national security, U.S. policies, and military affairs.