Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Aug 14: Just months after Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended formal greetings to Pakistan on its Independence Day, lauding the country’s engagement on counterterrorism and trade.
Despite global outrage over the April 22 terror attack — which was carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), later designated a terrorist group by the US — Washington's latest message signals a shift in tone, reflecting broader geostrategic interests.
“On behalf of the United States, I extend warm congratulations to the people of Pakistan as they celebrate their Independence Day,” Rubio stated. “The US deeply appreciates Pakistan’s engagement on counterterrorism and trade.”
The statement comes amid evolving dynamics between Washington and Islamabad, particularly after Pakistan offered strategic access to Balochistan, raising interest in the region’s critical mineral reserves and hydrocarbon potential.
Rubio added that the US aims to “explore new areas of economic cooperation, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons, and foster partnerships for a prosperous future.”
Shifting Diplomacy Post-Pahalgam Attack
The Pahalgam massacre had sparked global condemnation, with Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir facing protests during his May visit to the US. Demonstrators — largely from the Pakistani diaspora and Imran Khan’s PTI supporters — accused Munir of authoritarian overreach and human rights abuses.
Viral footage from the protests, including slogans like “Geedad” (jackal), went viral online, embarrassing Pakistan’s military establishment. Yet, despite the backlash, US interest in Islamabad’s resources appears to be redefining the bilateral equation.
Strategic Minerals: The China Angle
Observers suggest the Trump administration’s renewed interest in Pakistan’s mineral wealth is part of a larger strategy to counter China’s dominance in the rare earth market — a sector critical for advanced military technologies such as drones and missile systems.
The US hopes to diversify global supply chains and reduce dependency on Beijing, making Balochistan’s untapped reserves strategically valuable.
Opposition From Baloch Voices
However, the growing economic alignment faces fierce opposition from Baloch activists.
Prominent leader Mir Yar Baloch warned that any US-Pakistan mineral deal would further empower the Pakistani military, worsening repression in Balochistan — a region he described as “an ancient sovereign nation under illegal occupation.”
He emphasized the region’s rich oil, gas, and rare earth resources, adding that its people have long suffered under military-backed regimes hostile to secular and peaceful values.
Tara Chand, President of the Baloch American Congress, went further, calling General Munir a “fake Field Marshal” and “enemy of humanity.” He demanded international intervention to strip Pakistan of its nuclear arsenal, warning that its religiously driven leadership poses a threat to global security.
As US-Pakistan ties warm under the banner of trade and energy cooperation, the diplomatic balancing act grows more complex — especially in the shadow of terror attacks, diaspora protests, and internal dissent from marginalised regions like Balochistan.