Asim Munir, Pak PM Show Trump Rare Earth Minerals

A new picture of Donald Trump's meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House has surfaced, showing them presenting rare earth minerals to the US President.

The picture showed Munir pointing at an open wooden box that contained the rare earth minerals as Trump looked on during the meeting in the Oval Office. Sharif was also seen standing with a slight smile.

Trump met Sharif, the first Pakistani prime minister to visit the White House in six years, and Munir, who held a rare one-on-one meeting with the US President at the Oval Office in June, on Thursday.

The meeting, which also saw the participation of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reportedly continued for about an hour and a half.

Shehbaz described Trump as a "man of peace" for his "sincere efforts" to end conflicts around the globe, according to a statement from his office.

He also thanked Trump for the tariff deal signed between Pakistan and the US in July. The two countries reached a trade agreement that entails a 19 per cent tariff on Pakistani imports and will allow Washington to help develop Pakistan's oil reserves.

Sharif expressed confidence that under Trump's leadership, the Pakistan-US partnership would be "further strengthened to the mutual benefit of both countries", the statement said.

He also invited American companies to invest in Pakistan's agriculture, IT, mines and minerals and energy sectors, the statement added.

The meeting came as the bilateral ties showed a marked improvement after several years of a tenuous relationship.

US Eyeing Pakistan's Rare Earths

Pakistan's Frontier Works Organisatin - which is the country's largest miner of critical minerals - this month signed a memorandum of understanding with Missouri-based US Strategic Metals for collaboration plans that include setting up a poly-metallic refinery in Pakistan.

US Strategic Metals is focused on producing and recycling critical minerals, which the US Department of Energy has defined as essential in a variety of technologies related to advanced manufacturing and energy production.

A second agreement was signed between the National Logistics Corp of Pakistan and Mota-Engil Group, a Portuguese engineering and construction company.

A statement from Sharif's office said he held talks with the delegation from US Strategic Metals and Mota-Engil over Pakistan's copper, gold, rare earths and other mineral resources.

The sides expressed readiness to develop value-added facilities, enhance mineral processing capacity, and undertake large-scale projects tied to mining, the statement said.

"The partnership will begin immediately with the export of readily available minerals from Pakistan, including antimony, copper, gold, tungsten, and rare earth elements," it said.

Sharif this year claimed that Pakistan possesses mineral reserves worth trillions of dollars, and foreign investment in the mineral sector could help the country overcome its prolonged financial crisis and free itself from the burden of massive foreign loans.

Most of Pakistan's mineral wealth, however, is in the insurgency-hit southwestern Balochistan province, where separatists have opposed the extraction of resources by Pakistani and foreign firms.

The image of the rare earth minerals being presented to President Trump has also drawn significant international attention. Many analysts view it as a symbolic gesture, representing Pakistan’s willingness to open its mineral sector to American partnerships. The fact that Army Chief Asim Munir was part of the delegation underscores how crucial the military considers this resource diplomacy. Pakistan’s military has long played a central role in shaping the nation’s foreign and economic policies, especially in sectors tied to national security and strategic resources.

Experts suggest that rare earth elements could become a cornerstone of future Pakistan-US relations, especially as the United States seeks to reduce its dependence on China for critical mineral supplies. With the global race for technological dominance intensifying, access to minerals like lithium, cobalt, and rare earths has become a defining factor in economic and defense strategies. This visit, therefore, was not just diplomatic—it was deeply strategic.

The White House meeting also reflects a changing tone in Washington’s approach toward Islamabad. During previous administrations, ties were strained over counterterrorism concerns and regional tensions. However, the Trump-Sharif-Munir meeting appears to signal a renewed interest in economic cooperation and resource-based partnerships. The inclusion of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio further reinforces the significance of this engagement, indicating bipartisan interest in strengthening ties with Pakistan.

Sources familiar with the talks claim that the discussions also touched on regional stability, Afghanistan’s evolving security landscape, and ways to curb smuggling of critical minerals from conflict areas. Trump reportedly emphasized the importance of transparent trade practices and expressed optimism about Pakistan’s economic recovery. In response, Sharif assured him that his government was implementing reforms to attract responsible foreign investment and improve governance in the mining sector.

Meanwhile, analysts in Pakistan view this diplomatic development as a potential turning point. The country’s economic instability, driven by external debt and declining foreign reserves, has made it crucial to diversify revenue sources. If managed effectively, mineral exports could provide billions in revenue annually. However, experts warn that without proper regulation and benefit-sharing with local communities, such projects might reignite internal discontent—particularly in Balochistan, where locals have long felt marginalized from resource profits.

The new agreements with US Strategic Metals and Mota-Engil also mark a significant step toward industrial modernization. Establishing a poly-metallic refinery within Pakistan could help the country move away from raw material exports and instead develop domestic processing capabilities. This would not only generate jobs but also enable the country to capture more value within its borders, a key goal in Pakistan’s economic roadmap.

Observers believe that Trump’s visible enthusiasm during the meeting reflects his broader strategy of reshoring global supply chains and countering China’s dominance in the critical minerals market. By forging closer ties with Pakistan—a nation rich in natural resources and strategically located—Washington could gain a competitive advantage in the global race for clean energy and defense technologies.

Whether this diplomatic momentum translates into tangible progress remains to be seen, but the meeting has undoubtedly reignited optimism. For Pakistan, the challenge will be ensuring that foreign collaborations translate into sustainable development rather than exploitation. For the United States, the partnership offers an opportunity to rebuild influence in South Asia while securing access to resources critical to its technological future.