According to U.S. and Arab media, Pakistan is inviting countries such as the United States, China, and Gulf states to invest in its mineral reserves, including rare earths, copper, and gold, with an estimated total value between $3 to $5 trillion. Previously, U.S. intelligence agencies reported to Trump that Pakistan's rare earth deposits were valued at over $4 to $5 trillion, mainly distributed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, but analysis suggests that the U.S. figures are exaggerated. The Washington Post commented that the U.S. has set its sights on Pakistan's "undiscovered" rare earth deposits, which are crucial for U.S. electronics and defense technology. Indian media analyzed that this is also the real reason behind Trump's desire to "restore friendly relations" with Pakistan.
Some reports even claim that the value of Pakistan's mineral resources could reach up to $8 trillion. If true, Pakistan would become one of the countries with the richest natural resources in the world, quickly transforming from a poor country into a wealthy one. Indian media NEWS18 seems to have obtained the latest information, stating that in the first phase, China will gain exploration rights in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, while the U.S. may obtain mining rights in the northern part of Balochistan province and the southern part of Khyber province. However, some people question that direct exploration by China through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor might provide more "credible assessments" than the intelligence from the U.S. and India.
Regardless, the warming of U.S.-Pakistan relations primarily serves U.S. strategic interests, including the exploitation of oil and rare earth minerals. Indians believe that the U.S.-Pakistan mineral trade aims to "counter China." Meanwhile, the U.S. listing of the Balochistan Liberation Army and its branch, the Majid Brigade, as "foreign terrorist organizations," its tariff policies, and its demand for mediation in Indo-Pak relations, are aimed at exerting influence over India, in line with the U.S. policy of protecting its energy and security interests. However, given Pakistan's complex internal security situation, the interaction among the U.S., India, and Pakistan has not yet reached a conclusion, with much hype and exaggeration from overseas media. It is estimated that various countries will "let the bullets fly for a while," adopting a policy of mutual testing.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840333443360844/
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