Along with increasing economic collaboration in developing sectors, the United States has reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering cooperation with Pakistan, especially in the areas of hydrocarbons and vital minerals.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized this development in a congratulatory statement on August 14, 2025, Pakistan’s Independence Day. Rubio acknowledged Pakistan’s involvement with the US in commerce and counterterrorism and emphasized the significance of ongoing cooperation between the two countries.
In order to create vibrant commercial partnerships that would benefit both Americans and Pakistanis, he indicated a strong desire to investigate new areas of economic cooperation.
The United States’ strategic interest in Pakistan’s wealth of natural resources, particularly its vital minerals and hydrocarbons, is reflected in this proclamation. A substantial opportunity exists in the mineral-rich Balochistan area in southwest Pakistan, which is abundant in copper and gold.
The Reqo Diq mining project, which contains one of the world’s largest copper-gold deposits, is expected to start production by 2028, underscoring the potential for collaboration in critical minerals that are vital for modern technology sectors including artificial intelligence and electronics.
Washington’s aim to expand its commercial presence in Pakistan’s mineral industry was indicated earlier in 2025 when US officials, including a delegation headed by a senior State Department official, attended the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum.
Pakistan’s mineral reserves are seen as a strategic asset in the US’s ongoing efforts to acquire a variety of trustworthy sources of minerals essential for defense and technology uses.
Furthermore, a trade agreement to jointly explore Pakistan’s oil reserves was announced by former US President Donald Trump in July 2025. Despite the long-standing hostilities between the two neighbors, Trump emphasized the current process to choose an oil company to spearhead this collaboration and the potential for Pakistan to sell oil to India in the future.
In an effort to increase bilateral trade, the US government also placed comparatively low taxes on Pakistani commodities when compared to those of other South Asian nations. The 25% duty on Indian commodities—later raised to a total of 50% because of India’s ongoing oil purchases from Russia—was far higher than the 19% tariff on Pakistani goods. India has defended its national interests and denounced these taxes as unjust.
High-profile visits, like Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir’s several trips to the US where he met with political and military figures, have also been a part of diplomatic relations between the US and Pakistan.
These visits coincided with increased counterterrorism cooperation, with recent bilateral discussions concentrating on fighting extremist organizations such as the Taliban, ISIS-Khorasan, and the Balochistan Liberation Army.
In general, the US-Pakistan relationship in 2025 is characterized by a greater emphasis on economic cooperation related to trade, security cooperation, and the development of natural resources. This indicates a substantial shift toward fortifying ties and investigating reciprocal advantages in vital minerals and hydrocarbons sectors.
This strategy is in line with the US’s plan to broaden its security and economic alliances in South Asia in the face of global geopolitical changes.
