Eric Meyer, Senior Bureau Official for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, visited Islamabad on April 8–9 as part of Washington’s drive to strengthen minerals cooperation with Pakistan and promote broader economic and security ties.

U.S. sees strategic importance in Pakistani minerals

According to a statement issued by the US embassy in Pakistan, speaking at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, Meyer stressed that “critical minerals are the raw materials necessary for our most advanced technologies.” He added, “President Trump has made it clear that securing diverse and reliable sources of these materials is a strategic priority. Pakistan’s vast mineral potential—if responsibly and transparently developed—can benefit both our countries.”

Meyer highlighted that the U.S. is working alongside international partners and Pakistani stakeholders to explore opportunities for investment, technical collaboration, and responsible resource management in the critical minerals sector.

High-level meetings signal deepening engagement

During his visit, Meyer held meetings with top Pakistani leadership including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, and Petroleum Minister Musadik Malik.

These meetings focused on expanding American business opportunities in Pakistan, promoting economic integration, and reinforcing counterterrorism cooperation. Meyer’s engagements underscore the growing U.S. focus on Pakistan as a strategic partner in both economic and security domains.

People-to-people ties also in focus

Meyer also interacted with Pakistani foreign policy analysts, members of the American chambers of commerce, and alumni of U.S. public diplomacy programs. The meetings, he said, were aimed at strengthening “the close and enduring people-to-people ties between our two countries.”

The visit marks another step in the U.S.’s global push to secure alternative sources for critical minerals—essential for everything from clean energy solutions to defense technologies—amid rising competition and geopolitical shifts.