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HomeWorldAsim Munir's 'Rare Earth' gift to Trump sparks political outrage in Pakistan: Will the 'secret deal' irk China?
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Asim Munir's 'Rare Earth' gift to Trump sparks political outrage in Pakistan: Will the 'secret deal' irk China?

The controversial deal with US President Donald Trump, under which Munir exported high-value minerals such as neodymium and praseodymium, has ignited political outrage in Islamabad.

October 06, 2025 / 20:31 IST
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Pakistan has shipped its first-ever consignment of rare earth and critical minerals to the United States, a move Islamabad is presenting as a milestone in strategic and economic cooperation. The $500 million memorandum of understanding with US Strategic Metals (USSM) covers exploration, processing, and refining of minerals including neodymium, praseodymium, copper, and antimony. The sample shipment, prepared under the supervision of the army-controlled Frontier Works Organisation, comes amid Pakistan’s worsening economic crisis, rising debt, and growing international isolation.

The controversial deal with US President Donald Trump, under which Munir exported high-value minerals such as neodymium and praseodymium, has ignited political outrage in Islamabad. PTI and other opposition parties have denounced it as a ‘secret deal’ that undermines transparency. While the Sharif government insists the agreement will enhance investment and strategic cooperation, critics question the absence of parliamentary scrutiny and disclosure."

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The high-profile delivery culminated in a controversial Oval Office meeting where Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir personally handed a wooden box of mineral samples to Trump, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif smiling in the background. As reported by Moneycontrol earlier, the move is less about trade and more about converting natural resources into diplomatic leverage, bypassing civilian institutions and projecting the Army as the real power centre in Islamabad.

Strategic gains or miscalculated risk?