Pakistan's Sleeping Giant: Will US Investment Unlock Its Mineral Riches?

Eric Meyer, a senior official from the U.S. State Department, will land in Islamabad this week with a mission that feels both urgent and overdue. From April 8 to 10, 2025, he’ll lead a delegation to the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, a gathering poised to unlock a treasure trove of copper, gold, lithium, and rare earth elements buried across 600,000 square kilometers of rugged terrain. This isn’t just about rocks; it’s about rewriting a partnership that’s too often been shackled to security alone.

Pakistan’s mineral sector is a sleeping giant. With reserves that could fuel everything from electric cars to fighter jets, the country stands on the cusp of an economic breakthrough. Projects like the Reko Diq mine promise billions in revenue over decades, yet the sector limps along at a measly 3.2% of GDP. Meyer’s visit signals a chance to change that, to pivot U.S. engagement toward something tangible, something that lifts people up instead of just holding threats at bay.

For too long, America’s lens on Pakistan has been narrow, fixated on drones and terror networks. Now, with global demand for critical minerals surging, this forum offers a lifeline, a way to deepen ties through jobs and growth. It’s a vision that demands courage, one that dares to see Pakistan as more than a battlefield.

Meyer’s agenda isn’t limited to minerals. He’ll also sit down with Pakistani officials to press the case for counterterrorism collaboration, a topic that’s grown thorny since the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021. The arrest of an IS-K commander near the border last month proves the intelligence-sharing still works, sometimes. Yet the cracks are wide. Pakistan obsesses over the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, while the U.S. zeroes in on IS-K’s global reach. Alignment feels like chasing shadows.

History backs this up. Since 2001, the U.S. poured billions into Pakistan’s military coffers, naming it a Major Non-NATO Ally in 2004. The payoff? High-profile captures like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, sure, but also a lingering distrust fueled by drone strikes and accusations of double-dealing. A seven-year freeze on security aid hasn’t helped. Critics argue this proves cooperation’s limits, but that’s a lazy take. Targeted dialogues from past administrations show progress is possible when goals align.

What’s needed now is a broader frame. Economic investment can bolster security, not replace it. A Pakistan with a thriving mineral sector is a Pakistan less desperate, less vulnerable to extremist pull. Meyer’s talks could plant that seed, if Washington dares to think past the next crisis.

Let’s not kid ourselves; the U.S. hasn’t always been a stellar partner. The Trump administration’s tariff war, slapping a 58% levy on Pakistani exports while Pakistan counters with 29% on U.S. goods, has gutted trade. Textiles, Pakistan’s lifeline to American markets, took a $7 billion hit before sliding in 2023. Some say this hardball approach curbs China’s sway in South Asia, but it’s a blunt tool that punishes more than it persuades.

Contrast that with the potential of forums like this one. The Joint Economic Forum of years past carved out space for real dialogue, not just posturing. Today, investing in Pakistan’s minerals could diversify its economy, loosening Beijing’s grip without firing a shot. It’s not charity; it’s strategy with a human face, one that creates jobs and stability over sanctions and standoffs.

Skeptics will scoff, pointing to decades of rocky relations, from Cold War sanctions to post-9/11 aid swings. They’re not wrong to note the baggage, but clinging to that narrative ignores what’s at stake. Pakistan’s lithium and rare earths are keys to a greener, tech-driven future. Letting them slip into rival hands isn’t tough; it’s reckless.

Meyer’s trip is a spark, not a solution. Unlocking Pakistan’s mineral wealth demands sustained U.S. commitment, regulatory harmony, and a focus on sustainable mining that doesn’t ravage the land. It’s a chance to build something lasting, to shift from a transactional fling to a partnership with roots. The payoff isn’t just economic; it’s a stronger ally against chaos, a bulwark in a region teetering on edge.

This isn’t about blind optimism. It’s about seizing a moment when the world’s needs, Pakistan’s potential, and America’s interests collide. The U.S. can keep playing whack-a-mole with tariffs and terror, or it can invest in a future where both nations win. Meyer’s suitcase is packed; the question is whether Washington’s vision is too.