Washington, DC – In a vivid display of diplomatic flair, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a wooden box brimming with colorful rare earth mineral samples during a high-stakes White House meeting last week. The gesture, captured in a newly released White House photograph, underscores Islamabad’s aggressive push to leverage its untapped mineral riches to rebuild ties with Washington and counter China’s dominance in the global supply chain for these critical resources.

The Oval Office sit-down on September 25, lasting about 90 minutes, also included U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Pakistani officials described the talks as “highly significant,” covering counterterrorism, economic partnerships, and investment opportunities in mining, oil, and energy. Sharif hailed Trump as a “man of peace” for his role in brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, while extending invitations for American firms to pour funds into Pakistan’s agriculture, IT, and mineral sectors.

At the heart of the overture is a freshly inked memorandum of understanding (MoU) valued at $500 million between Pakistan’s military-linked Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and Missouri-based United States Strategic Metals (USSM). Signed on September 8 in Islamabad amid fanfare from Sharif and Munir, the deal outlines three phases: immediate exports of available minerals like antimony, copper, gold, tungsten, and rare earth elements to the U.S.; mid-term construction of processing plants; and long-term exploration. A second MoU pairs Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation with Portugal’s Mota-Engil Group to modernize mining infrastructure.

The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad hailed the pacts as “another example of the strength of the US-Pakistan bilateral relationship,” emphasizing mutual benefits in strategically vital sectors. For Trump, who has vowed to slash U.S. reliance on Chinese rare earths—vital for everything from electric vehicles and smartphones to defense tech—the timing couldn’t be better. Pakistan’s reserves, estimated in the trillions of dollars, are largely concentrated in the insurgency-plagued southwestern province of Balochistan, with additional deposits in Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Yet, the sparkle of these “colorful stones” masks deeper skepticism. The U.S. Geological Survey’s January 2025 report on mineral commodities lists 15 countries with mapped rare earth deposits—and Pakistan isn’t one of them. Experts like mining analyst Ahsan Khan note that initial exports will likely focus on concentrates rather than full-scale mining, positioning Pakistan more as a trader than a powerhouse. Balochistan’s separatist unrest, including groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in August), has long stymied extraction efforts.

This isn’t Pakistan’s first brush with resource-fueled hype. In August, Munir touted the country’s “treasure trove” of minerals and oil during U.S. talks, echoing unfulfilled promises from 2019 when then-Prime Minister Imran Khan hyped a “massive” offshore oil find that fizzled out, as reported by Dawn newspaper. Sharif’s government, grappling with a crippling debt crisis, sees foreign inflows as a lifeline to slash loans and propel Pakistan toward prosperity.

On social media, reactions ranged from triumphant posts celebrating the “Trump card” to biting critiques alleging a sellout of Balochistan’s wealth, with hashtags like #FreeBalochistan trending. One X user quipped about Munir and Sharif “boot-licking” to hand over minerals previously monopolized by China.

As Trump eyes reelection and a multipolar world, Pakistan’s mineral gambit could yield quick wins—or join the annals of unkept promises. For now, the wooden box has opened doors, but turning stones into sustained alliances will test both sides’ resolve.