BREAKING: Asim Munir and Shehbaz Sharif Face Trouble On Mineral Exploration From US & China | News18

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:04]All right, this is CNN News 18's exclusive Munir and Shahbaz Sharif facing trouble after fake commitments to Americans and China. Americans say we have finalized companies for mineral exploration. Where are the spots to the mine? That's the question which Americans are asking in a significant diplomatic engagement. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur on Friday to review the trajectory of Pakistan-US relations, regional security challenges.

[00:00:39]Pakistan's top civil-military leadership holds important meetings on Balochistan safety and security issues in Quetta, Pakistan. Prime Minister is traveling to China from 23 May to 26 May. Pakistan wants to send a message of safe and secure Balochistan. PM Shahbaz Sharif directs FC deployment to establish secure mineral corridor for Chinese firms in Balochistan. Field Marshal Asim Munir reaffirms armed forces' commitment to eradicate terrorism and security for Chinese in Balochistan.

[00:01:14]All right, CNN News 18's Siddhant Mishra is joining us on this story.

[00:01:18]Uh Siddhant, Pakistan, of course, is playing on both sides. A uh they have to keep Americans happy, of course, with whatever deals America is pushing for. They have They'll have to adapt to. And on the other side, of course, they have to really go into the side of China. So, tell us more about this jittery in Pakistan right now.

[00:01:40]Well, that's right. So, this is a Manoj Gupta story, and Manoj is bringing this for us that they are that in a significant diplomatic engagement, Mohsin Naqvi met with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur on Friday to review the trajectory of Pakistan-US relations, regional security challenges.

[00:01:59]In fact, they also discussed avenues for deeper cooperation along Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mineral resources and ties. China started talking to Baloch directly, how to secure Balochistan and avoid rising United States and Chinese pressure.

[00:02:13]Pakistan stopped civil-military leadership holds important meetings on Balochistan safety and security issues in Quetta. Balochistan trip before China visit Pakistan Prime Minister and Field Marshal held important meetings in Quetta to show seriousness. Pakistan Prime Minister is traveling to China, Arun, as you rightly pointed out.

[00:02:30]Pakistan wants to send message of safe and safety and security as far as Balochistan is concerned. PM Shahbaz directs FC deployment to establish secure mineral corridor for Chinese firms in Balochistan. Field Marshal Asim Munir reaffirms armed forces commitment to eradicate terrorism and security, how to make secure Chinese investments and assets in Balochistan. Long-term progress in Balochistan depends on people-centric approach, etc., etc. All those things were said. US injects 1.3 billion dollar into Balochistan Reko Diq copper and gold project, pressing Pakistan for security, commercial mining production target for 2028. The violence was triggered by coordinated assault on military installations, police stations, and all those things they have already reported. So, of course, Pakistan has always been playing both sides, Arun.

[00:03:17]Not for the first time we are reporting this both on the Chinese and the American side. And they are walking a walking a very thin rope, but particularly as far as uh uh you know, balancing ties between between our United States and China is concerned, especially for the region of Balochistan. Because if you remember, uh China already has huge investments there, CPEC corridor, so on and so forth. Now, um you know, uh last year when Asim Munir and and Shahbaz Sharif met Donald Trump in White House, perhaps they uh they again offered minerals to uh President Trump. Uh perhaps uh and and you know, uh the same commitments uh were made to the Chinese also. The same commitments are being made to the Americans. So, that's how they have been playing all throughout, you know, playing both sides. Let's see, you know, which way they go.

[00:04:05]>> Yes, and Siddhant, we know the importance of Balochistan for Pakistan.

[00:04:10]Both China and uh United States have their eyes on this. But, when United States is asking for that question that they have also identified companies were going to really go and work in Pakistan.

[00:04:20]They are seeking those spots to mine.

[00:04:23]What has been Pakistan's reaction to those? Have they identified the spots where United States would be mining?

[00:04:30]Well, of course, Arun, uh uh those were the fake commitments which uh Pakistani's made both to the Americans and the Chinese. To the Americans, those those commitments were made, the promises were made because, of course, you know, Asim Munir wanted to lure the Trump administration that we have critical minerals. And if you remember, you know, last 1 year 1 year or in fact more than that, there have been there have been renewed focus of the Trump Trump administration on securing the supply chain of critical minerals.

[00:05:01]So, you know, they understood Pakistani's understood that that this is how they can lure Trump administration and they offered the Trump administration their mineral resources in Balochistan so on and so forth. Despite knowing that China already has interest in in those critical mineral resources and in and that that entire region. Despite knowing that there is a there is a huge security problem in that region. Those promises were made. So, so as Manoj is rightly reporting that, you know, Shehbaz Sharif is going there.

[00:05:30]They are holding meeting with the Baloch leaders, perhaps trying to pacify them.

[00:05:35]They have deployed FC teams so on and so forth. So, you know, there are a lot of issues. On one end, they are they are making commitment both to the Americans and the Chinese. And on the other end, the security situation continues in Balochistan.

[00:05:48]Absolutely. And Siddhant, we have seen that Pakistan has been fishing into troubled water always. And this is of course not new for them. And they also understand at the same time that what could be the repercussions of this if they are really faking things around because both United States and China know exactly how to really get their things out. So, Pakistan of course is going to be in a spot of bother now.

[00:06:22]All right, we seem to have lost contact there with Siddhant. But as he was of course highlighting about this that the situation in Pakistan is in extremely, you know, troublesome. They are in turmoil. And therefore, we talk about all these things as Siddhant was also of course discussing about this China and United States both sides how Pakistan is lobbying. Siddhant is back with us.

[00:06:47]Siddhant, I was asking uh uh you about this fishing in troubled waters for Pakistan. And uh they have been of course seeing the repercussions coming to their sides if they really not adhere to what United States and China, uh you know, asking them to do. What do you see? Where do you see Pakistan's way out through this because it seems that they are really in the grips of both these big powers.

[00:07:15]Well, of course, they had no option, Arun, honestly left with them uh but to lure both Chinese and the Americans with investments, with the mineral resources, and so forth. In fact, the latest cipher cable which has which has gone public perhaps shows the that how the Pakistani military perhaps orchestrated the the overthrow of of Imran Khan just because Americans at that point in time wanted Imran Khan to be removed from the office. So, you know, all Asim Munir was left with the crypto deals, critical minerals, uh, these kinds of attractive, uh, deals attractive in nature to lure Americans and that exact that is that is exactly what he did.