Islamabad, Pakistan, December 28 (ANI): The current US administration under President Donald Trump has approached Pakistan to explore partnerships in the sale of American locomotives and cooperation in mineral exploration, including assessment studies and agreements aimed at accelerating extraction, The Express Tribune reported, citing sources from the Pakistan government.
According to The Express Tribune, discussions on the matter took place during Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb’s visit to Washington in October on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund annual meetings.
Pakistani authorities have since held internal consultations to evaluate US interest in the transport and minerals sectors.
The Express Tribune reported that Aurangzeb held several meetings with senior US officials, including Raymond Emory Cox, Special Assistant to the US President for International Economic Relations, and Ricky Gill, Special Assistant to the US President and Senior Director for South and Central Asia, according to sources.
Sources said that during the meetings, Gill requested Pakistan’s support for the purchase of American locomotives under a tender that had already been issued.
Pakistan has previously procured 55 locomotives from the United States. However, Pakistan Railways is currently facing liquidity constraints and is relying mainly on repairs and refurbishment of its existing fleet, The Express Tribune reported.
Sources further claimed that Gill also sought favorable consideration of Starlink’s license application to provide high-speed internet services in Pakistan, particularly in rural and remote areas.
The report said US officials emphasized that protecting and advancing American commercial interests was a key priority of the Trump administration and stressed the need for a level playing field for US companies.
They also appreciated Pakistan’s decision to withdraw a proposed 5 percent digital services tax to facilitate a trade understanding, the sources said.
US officials highlighted cooperation in critical minerals as a major priority, according to the report.
The US Congress has established a USD 135 billion fund for global investments in critical minerals, while the US Export-Import Bank has approved a USD 1.25 billion loan for the Reko Diq Mining Company in Balochistan, The Express Tribune reported.
In a separate meeting, Thomas Lersten, a senior official at the US State Department’s Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, reiterated Washington’s interest in Pakistan’s critical minerals sector, sources said.
He proposed collaboration on reserve assessments and offtake agreements to expedite extraction and noted that artificial intelligence would be a strategic US priority.
Aurangzeb also met with Robert Kaproth, Assistant Secretary of State for International Finance, who discussed regional financial developments and outlined the US focus on private-sector digital finance solutions and cross-border digital frameworks, according to sources cited by The Express Tribune.
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