China currently controls nearly 60–65% of the global rare earth market, and the United States imports a major portion of its requirement from Beijing. However, with China now adopting a “controlled export” policy, Washington is under mounting strategic pressure—forcing it to look for alternative sources. In a surprising geopolitical twist, Pakistan has positioned itself as a potential challenger to China’s dominance. During a recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir presented a box containing colorful mineral stones and ores. These reportedly included bastnäsite and monazite, which are primary sources of high-value rare earth elements such as cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium—critical for smartphones, missile guid...