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- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sun, 28 Sep 2025 03:47 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir recently met US President Donald Trump at the White House, showcasing the country’s alleged rare earth mineral wealth in a strategic bid to attract American investment. A photo released by the White House shows Trump intently examining a neatly arranged wooden box containing colorful stones, while Sharif looked on with a smile.
The display included larger clumps resembling bastanzite and monazite, minerals known for rare earth elements (REEs) such as cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium, alongside smaller gemstone-like pebbles. Munir is seen pointing to the contents as Trump studied them, highlighting Pakistan’s push to flaunt its resource potential.
Meeting Of Strategic Significance
Sharif, the first Pakistani prime minister to visit the White House in six years, met Trump along with Munir on Thursday. The hour-and-a-half meeting also included Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. While the discussions were reportedly wide-ranging, the rare earths presentation stood out as a symbolic gesture, coming just weeks after a USD 500 million investment deal between a US metals company and Pakistan.
Earlier this month, Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), a military engineering body, signed a memorandum of understanding with Missouri-based US Strategic Metals to establish a poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan. This move signals Islamabad’s intention to attract foreign investment in its mineral sector, particularly in rare earth elements critical for technology and defense industries.
Pakistan’s “Rare Earth Treasure”
General Munir focused on the economic value of these resources, reporting to Pakistani media, "Pakistan has a treasure of rare earth; with this treasure, Pakistan's burden of debt will also be lessened, and Pakistan will soon be among the most prosperous societies." The announcement was reminiscent of earlier boasts by Pakistan about oil and gas reserves, some of which, such as the 2019 offshore discovery, were subsequently discredited.
In spite of previous failures, the current drive indicates Islamabad's new emphasis on mineral exports and resource diplomacy. The two sides have indicated readiness to establish value-added infrastructure, increase mineral processing capacity, and embark on massive mining ventures. Short-term plans include the export of antimony, copper, gold, tungsten, and rare earth minerals.