US working to realize Pakistan’s critical minerals potential, official tells Congress

ISLAMABAD: US Assistant Secretary of State S Paul Kapur told a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee that Pakistan remains an important regional partner for the United States, highlighting expanding economic engagement, cooperation on critical minerals, and ongoing security and counter-terrorism collaboration.

“Pakistan is another important partner in the region. We are working together with Pakistan to realize the potential of its critical mineral resources, combining US government seed financing with private sector know-how to the benefit both of our countries,” he told the sub-committee.

Referring to broader economic engagement, Kapur said: “Our trade in energy and agriculture is expanding as well.”

He also pointed to continued security cooperation between the two countries, adding: “And our ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation helps Pakistan combat internal security threats while addressing transnational dangers that can harm the US or our partners.”