Top US official to visit Pakistan for minerals, counterterrorism talks
By Amjad Qaimkhani
WASHINGTON: Eric Meyer, the Senior Bureau Official for the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, is leading an interagency delegation to Islamabad from April 8 to 10, 2025, as part of a strategic diplomatic push to enhance bilateral ties with Pakistan. The centerpiece of the visit is the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, where Meyer will seek to galvanize American interest in Pakistan’s critical minerals sector—an area seen as pivotal to future economic and industrial cooperation between the two nations.
With a growing global demand for minerals vital to clean energy and advanced technology industries, the US is positioning itself as a key player in helping Pakistan tap into its underutilized natural resources. Meyer’s mission reflects Washington’s intention to forge more robust commercial links by encouraging US businesses to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s mining and extraction sectors. Islamabad, for its part, is keen to attract foreign capital and technical expertise to revive a sector long overshadowed by instability and policy uncertainty.
While the economic agenda remains front and centre, Meyer’s visit also underscores the dual-track nature of US-Pakistan relations. Beyond minerals and markets, his meetings with top Pakistani officials are expected to tackle security cooperation, particularly in the realm of counterterrorism. With Afghanistan’s continued instability and regional security challenges still looming, Washington views Islamabad as a critical partner in maintaining strategic balance and curbing extremist threats.
Officials familiar with the visit say Meyer will reaffirm America’s commitment to Pakistan’s long-term stability while encouraging greater transparency and regulatory reforms to pave the way for sustained foreign investment. In diplomatic terms, the visit marks a subtle recalibration of ties—less reliant on military aid and more grounded in shared economic interests and regional cooperation.
As Islamabad prepares to welcome the US delegation, observers are watching closely to see whether this engagement translates into meaningful investment and renewed trust, particularly at a time when Pakistan is navigating serious economic challenges and a shifting geopolitical environment. Whether in boardrooms or behind closed doors, the conversations over these three days may signal a new chapter in US-Pakistan relations—one that moves from aid to partnership, and from rhetoric to results.
By Amjad Qaimkhani
WASHINGTON: Eric Meyer, the Senior Bureau Official for the US Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, is leading an interagency delegation to Islamabad from April 8 to 10, 2025, as part of a strategic diplomatic push to enhance bilateral ties with Pakistan. The centerpiece of the visit is the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, where Meyer will seek to galvanize American interest in Pakistan’s critical minerals sector—an area seen as pivotal to future economic and industrial cooperation between the two nations.
With a growing global demand for minerals vital to clean energy and advanced technology industries, the US is positioning itself as a key player in helping Pakistan tap into its underutilized natural resources. Meyer’s mission reflects Washington’s intention to forge more robust commercial links by encouraging US businesses to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s mining and extraction sectors. Islamabad, for its part, is keen to attract foreign capital and technical expertise to revive a sector long overshadowed by instability and policy uncertainty.
While the economic agenda remains front and centre, Meyer’s visit also underscores the dual-track nature of US-Pakistan relations. Beyond minerals and markets, his meetings with top Pakistani officials are expected to tackle security cooperation, particularly in the realm of counterterrorism. With Afghanistan’s continued instability and regional security challenges still looming, Washington views Islamabad as a critical partner in maintaining strategic balance and curbing extremist threats.
Officials familiar with the visit say Meyer will reaffirm America’s commitment to Pakistan’s long-term stability while encouraging greater transparency and regulatory reforms to pave the way for sustained foreign investment. In diplomatic terms, the visit marks a subtle recalibration of ties—less reliant on military aid and more grounded in shared economic interests and regional cooperation.
As Islamabad prepares to welcome the US delegation, observers are watching closely to see whether this engagement translates into meaningful investment and renewed trust, particularly at a time when Pakistan is navigating serious economic challenges and a shifting geopolitical environment. Whether in boardrooms or behind closed doors, the conversations over these three days may signal a new chapter in US-Pakistan relations—one that moves from aid to partnership, and from rhetoric to results.
