Pak PM Sharif and Army chief Munir present rare earth minerals to Trump at White House meeting

In a high-profile meeting at the White House last week, Pakistani Prime Minister Asim Munir and Army Chief Asim Munir sought to reset ties with Washington by presenting rare earth minerals to US President Donald Trump. A photograph released by the White House showed Munir offering a wooden box containing the minerals as Trump looked on in the Oval Office. Also present was Shehbaz Sharif, who stood alongside with a smile.

The development came just days after Trump had hosted Sharif separately at the Oval Office. According to senior officials in Islamabad, those talks were "highly significant and security-focused” and lasted around ninety minutes. US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also joined the discussions.

Pakistani sources said the Oval Office dialogue extended beyond security matters, covering economic ties, counterterrorism cooperation, and investment opportunities. Washington, they noted, showed marked interest in Pakistan’s mineral resources, its potential in crypto mining, and opportunities for oil exploration.

After the meeting, Sharif praised Trump as a "man of peace” for his "sincere efforts” to end conflicts around the world. He also voiced optimism that "under Trump’s leadership, the Pakistan-US partnership would be further strengthened to the mutual benefit of both countries.” According to an official statement, Sharif invited American businesses to invest in Pakistan’s agriculture, IT, mining, and energy sectors.

The diplomatic outreach coincides with new commercial agreements. Earlier this month, United States Strategic Metals (USSM) signed a USD 500 million deal with Pakistan to export critical minerals such as antimony, copper, gold, tungsten, and rare earths. The pact also includes plans to establish processing facilities inside Pakistan.

Back in August, Munir unveiled what he called Pakistan’s "treasure” of mineral wealth to American stakeholders, which led to a trade agreement aimed at drawing US investment into the country’s mining and oil sectors. Earlier this year, he had estimated that Pakistan’s mineral reserves were worth trillions of dollars, a resource that could help the country overcome its long-standing financial challenges.

Global demand for minerals vital to industry, defence, and clean-energy technologies continues to grow, adding urgency to Islamabad’s pitch to Washington.