Latest news with #BureauofSouthandCentralAsianAffairs
India.com
22-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
JACKPOT in Balochistan, Pakistan sidelined..., dangerous plan of US, bad news for China due to..., good news for India because...
(File) Pakistan Mineral Reserves: The United States might be planning to replace China in the Pakistan's Balochistan to get its hands on the vast mineral reserves in the restive region, policy experts have claimed. The speculations stem from a recent visit of Eric Meyer, the head of US' Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, to Pakistan. Top US official visits Pakistan Meyer's visit is being viewed as a major turning point in US-Pakistan relations, and its believed that Washington may be willing to turn a blind eye to Islamabad's history of supporting and harbouring banned terror groups, as the Donald Trump administration wants a major piece of Pakistan's vast untapped mineral wealth, especially in the restive Balochistan region. On April 9, 2025, a US delegation led by Eric Meyer visited Pakistan to reportedly explore new avenues of cooperation in the mineral sector. During the visit, the senior diplomat met Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Rawalpindi, and their talks focused on tapping Pakistan's mineral resources, which both parties agreed would be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Munir and Meyer also spoke on other key topics, including partnerships between businesses, government and society, according to media reports. Eric Meyer also met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who urged the US to invest in Pakistan, asserting that both could reap significant economic benefits by tapping Pakistan's mineral reserves, which are estimated to be worth over $6 trillion. The US delegation also attended the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 in Islamabad, where investors from nations like US, China, Saudi Arabia and the European Union, were also present. Why US wants Pakistan's minerals? The US is the largest consumer of rare earth minerals, and with China controlling a major chunk of world's rare earth element deposits, Washington is looking at other places where large reserves remain untapped. During his Pakistan visit, Eric Meyers had said that these minerals are critical for US industries, especially its defense and electric vehicle manufacturers. US President Donald Trump has often talked about securing America's mineral future as a strategic imperative, and as such, Pakistan, which has vast untapped resources of copper, gold, lithium, and other rare elements, could be on the US radar as a potential partner. Experts note that for the US, the cooperation in mineral mining with Pakistan is geostrategic in nature, apart from its economic benefits. The China factor As noted earlier, China leads the global supply of critical minerals, boasting an estimated 69% share in rare earth element mining and 44% of copper smelting, worldwide. Additionally, China and Pakistan are strategic allies and Beijing essentially owns the entire Balochistan region with its CPEC investment, which has reinvigorated the Baloch independence movement. Meanwhile, the US is trying to beyond China for securing rare earth minerals, striking global deals to diversify and secure access to vital mines from Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Peru and beyond. As Washington redraws the global mineral supply chain map, its expansion will not be complete without South Asian countries like India and Pakistan, that have vast mineral resources. How the US move benefits India? If the US manages to replace China in Balochistan, it would provide India with a trusted ally in the region which could lead to New Delhi having a share of the potential benefits. Additionally, if Balochistan separates from Pakistan, then India can become a direct partner of the US in the region.
Arab News
14-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
US congressman urges collaboration with Pakistan in critical minerals, industrial development
ISLAMABAD: US Republican Congressman Jack Bergman has called for cooperation with Islamabad in the critical minerals and industrial development sectors, aiming to build a strategic partnership that 'provides value not only to Pakistan but to the entire world.' The United States has identified a list of 'critical minerals' like aluminum, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements that it has deemed essential for its economy, national security, and technological advancements. Pakistan is endowed with various mineral resources, including salt, coal, copper, gold, chromite, bauxite, and gemstones. It is also rich in lithium used to make batteries, as well as other minerals. But despite rich natural reserves estimated to be worth $6 trillion, Pakistan's mineral sector contributes only 3.2% to GDP and 0.1% to global exports. The country is now aiming to tap into this underutilized potential and last week organized a minerals summit attended by top government officials and heads of companies from various countries including the US, UK, Europe, China and the Middle East. 'The value of the relationship going forward between Pakistan and the United States cannot be overestimated or how positive an impact it's going to make, not only just here in Pakistan, in the United States, but in developing areas around the world,' said Bergman, who is part of a three-member US congressional delegation visiting Pakistan this week. 'The importance of what we're doing here in these specific areas is to bring partnerships together in very specific areas, critical minerals being only one of many but it sets the stage for the next steps in the development of good industries that provide value not only to Pakistan but to the entire world.' 'We cannot overestimate the value of the kinds of industries that we are involved with now in developing capabilities, whether it's industrial techniques, mining techniques, new products, all of those elements that go into the future of our productive world,' Bergman added. Last week, senior official Eric Meyer from the US Department of State's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs attended the Pakistan Minerals Summit and expressed interest in enhancing cooperation with Pakistan in the minerals sector, citing President Donald Trump's vision of securing rare materials as a 'strategic priority' that could benefit both countries. Pakistan is home to one of the world's largest porphyry copper-gold mineral zones, while the Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan province has an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore. Barrick Gold, which owns a 50% stake in the Reko Diq mines, considers them one of the world's largest underdeveloped copper-gold areas, and their development is expected to have a significant impact on Pakistan's struggling economy.
Arab News
10-04-2025
- Business
- Arab News
US seeks investment in Pakistan's vast mineral reserves during top official's visit
ISLAMABAD: A senior US official has expressed interest in enhancing cooperation with Pakistan in the minerals sector, citing President Donald Trump's vision of securing rare materials as a 'strategic priority' that could benefit both countries, the US Embassy said on Wednesday. The mission released the statement after Eric Meyer, a senior official from the US Department of State's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, attended an international minerals summit in Islamabad aimed at attracting foreign investment in the country's mining sector. Apart from gold and copper, Pakistan is also rich in lithium used to make batteries, as well as other minerals. The summit has drawn participation from major international companies, including Canada-based Barrick Gold, as well as government officials from the United States, Saudi Arabia, China, Turkiye, the United Kingdom, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and other nations. 'President Trump has made it clear that securing diverse and reliable sources of these materials is a strategic priority,' the US Embassy quoted Meyer as saying. 'Pakistan's vast mineral potential — if responsibly and transparently developed — can benefit both our countries.' Despite rich reserves of salt, copper, gold and coal, Pakistan's mineral sector contributes only 3.2 percent to GDP and 0.1 percent to global exports. The country is now aiming to tap into this underutilized potential. Pakistan is home to one of the world's largest porphyry copper-gold mineral zones, while the Reko Diq mine in southwestern Balochistan has an estimated 5.9 billion tons of ore. Barrick Gold, which owns a 50 percent stake in the Reko Diq mines, considers them one of the world's largest underdeveloped copper-gold areas, and their development is expected to have a significant impact on Pakistan's struggling economy. However, Balochistan is plagued by a decades-long insurgency, with ethnic Baloch separatists opposing any foreign investment which they say is an attempt by Islamabad to solidify its hold through external players on their regional resources. They have been fighting for decades for a greater share of local resources, but some of their armed groups now say they will not settle for anything less than a separate homeland. One of the largest insurgent groups, the Baloch Liberation Army, claimed responsibility for the train hijacking, which resulted in the deaths of 23 soldiers, three railway employees and five passengers. At least 33 insurgents were also killed. Addressing the minerals summit on Tuesday, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir said the military would 'ensure a robust security framework, proactive measures to protect the interests and trust of partners and investors.' 'You can count on Pakistan as a reliable partner.'
Express Tribune
10-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
US eyes Pakistan's critical mineral potential
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with a US delegation led by Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the State Department, in the federal capital. PHOTO: PPI A senior Trump administration official on Wednesday said Pakistan's "vast mineral potential" can benefit the United States as he highlighted that President Donald Trump declared securing the diverse and reliable sources of critical minerals as a strategic priority. Eric Meyer, Senior Official for the Department of State's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, concluded his two-day visit to Islamabad. A statement issued by the US embassy said the US delegation visit was meant to advance US interests in Pakistan's critical minerals sector, expand opportunities for US businesses in Pakistan, deepen economic ties between the two countries, and underscore the vital importance of continued collaboration on counterterrorism. On the margins of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, Mr Meyer highlighted support for investment in Pakistan's minerals sector. "Critical minerals are the raw materials necessary for our most advanced technologies," Senior Bureau Official Meyer said. "President Trump has made it clear that securing diverse and reliable sources of these materials is a strategic priority. Pakistan's vast mineral potentialif responsibly and transparently developedcan benefit both our countries," he was quoted as saying by the US Embassy. It said the United States continues to work with international partners and Pakistani stakeholders to explore opportunities for investment, technical collaboration, and responsible resource management in the minerals sector. Meyer also met with senior Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Sharif, Chief of Army Staff Munir, Minister of Interior Naqvi, and Minister of Petroleum Malik, to expand opportunities for American businesses in Pakistan, promote the deepening of economic ties between our two countries, and underscore the vital importance of continued collaboration on counterterrorism. During his visit, Meyer appreciated the opportunity to meet with Pakistani foreign policy thought leaders, members of the American chambers of commerce, and public diplomacy program alumni to strengthen the close and enduring people-to-people ties between our two countries. A separate statement released by the PM Office said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with a U.S. delegation led by Mr. Meyer, Senior Bureau Official and Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State, in Islamabad. The Prime Minister welcomed US participation in the forum. He emphasized that Pakistan's mineral sector has vast potential, and American companies should take advantage of investment opportunities in this priority area. Highlighting the importance of Pakistan-U.S. relations in the context of bilateral ties and regional peace and security, the Prime Minister expressed Pakistan's desire to work with President Trump and his administration to further strengthen bilateral relations. The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade and investment, as well as counterterrorism. The US official congratulated Pakistan on the successful organization of the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum. He acknowledged the vast potential of Pakistan's mineral sector and conveyed the interest of American companies in investing in this field. He also expressed the U.S. desire to work with Pakistan on matters of mutual interest and reiterated that the United States is keen to further strengthen bilateral relations with Pakistan. Meanwhile, the US delegation headed by Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, called on General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), at General Headquarters. Meeting came in the backdrop of Pakistan's Mineral Investment Forum. Appreciating the first-of-its-kind Forum, the delegation expressed confidence in Pakistan's policy to develop vast untapped mineral wealth through mutually beneficial partnerships. Commenting on the US Administration's priorities where collaboration in mineral development with Pakistan is a core area of mutual interest, Mr. Meyer also expressed interest in Pakistan's steadily improving investment landscape. The meeting also afforded an opportunity to both sides for sharing perspective on global developments and Pakistan's regional security imperatives. Both sides expressed confidence on the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and agreed on the need to explore B2B avenues in addition to expanding existing G2G and P2P cooperation for comprehensively strengthening the relationship.
Gulf Today
09-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
US companies seek to invest in Pakistan's untapped minerals sector: PM
US companies are seeking to invest in Pakistan's largely untapped minerals sector that boasts one of the world's largest copper and gold deposits, the Pakistani government said on Wednesday. Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, conveyed that interest directly to Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif during meeting in Islamabad, according to a government statement. The meeting came a day after Meyer attended the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum-an international summit aimed at attracting foreign investment in the country's mining sector. Apart from gold and copper, Pakistan is also rich in lithium used to make batteries, as well as other minerals. The summit has drawn participation from major international companies, including Canada-based Barrick Gold, as well as government officials from the United States, Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Azerbaijan, and other nations. Pakistan's massive copper and gold deposits are located in Reko Diq, a district in restive Balochistan, which has witnessed a surge in attacks by Baloch separatists in recent years. Pakistan's powerful army chief Gen. Asim Munir had told foreign companies and investors at the summit that the military would ensure their security. The statement said Meyer "acknowledged the potential of Pakistan's mineral sector,' adding that American companies are interested in exploring investment opportunities. He reaffirmed Washington's interest in expanding bilateral cooperation, including in such sectors as trade, investment, and counterterrorism, the statement said. Shahbaz said Pakistan's minerals sector offered "immense opportunities' and encouraged US companies to take advantage of the investment potential. Shahbaz expressed Islamabad's desire to strengthen ties with the Trump administration. Meyer's visit marks the first by a Trump administration official since the US imposed a 29% tariff on Pakistani exports as part of his trade war. Associated Press
