Balochistan is home to most of the mineral resources available in Pakistan and it possess great explored and unexplored potential of metallic and non-metallic minerals, some of which are currently being exploited and some which have future plans of exploitation.

Reko Diq is a small town in Chagai District, Balochistan, Pakistan. The town is located in a desert area, 70 kilometers north-west of Naukundi, close to Pakistan’s border with Iran and Afghanistan due to which it is located in the Tethyan belt that stretches all the way from Turkey and Iran into Pakistan. Reko Diq which translated into a sandy peak in the Baluchi Language is famous due to its Reko Diqmine which is known for its vast Gold and Copper Reserves and is believed to have the world’s 5^th largest gold deposit.

The mine has an estimated reserve of 5.9 billion tonnes of ore grading 0.41% copper and gold reserves amounting to 41.5 million oz. The area is under the control of the Tethyan Copper Company which holds 50% of the share and the company completed a feasibility report in respect for the project and submitted it to the Government of Balochistan.

The initial plan contemplate or hopes that in the processing plant about 110.000 tons of ore per day will be processed and transported to Gwadar through a pipeline to a marine terminal facility for storage and transfer. The proposed processing plant will produce approximately 600,000 tons of copper concentrate  a year, which will contain 28-31% copper and 7-22 g/ton gold which translates to about 200,000 tons of copper and 250,000 ounces of gold per year.

The mine has an estimated life of over 56 years with an estimated annual operating expense of US$400 million. The mining initiative is committed to the development of the project in order to cause the potential transformation of Balochistan’s dormant mineral resources into profitable mineral reserves. The project also will significantly contribute to the uplift of the local people and strengthen the economy in general by generating long term revenues in the form of royalties, taxes, profit-sharing and employment opportunities.

As soon as the Reko Diq project will go into development it will become the road for further investment in the exploration and mining sectors in Balochistan hence Pakistan in general.

Since the independence of Pakistan, Pakistan and the United States have kept a multifaceted and broad-based relationship, driven by co-operation ranging from education to energy and from defense to trade and investment. The United States was one of the first countries that established relations with Pakistan after its independence and Pakistan allied itself with the US during the war against the Soviet Union and played an integral party in CENTO and SEATO.

Relations further improved during the Operation Cyclone against the Soviet Expansion in Central Asia and South Asia in the 1980s. Pakistan once again assumed an important role in American geopolitical interests in the region following the September 11 attacks, and the subsequent War on Terror. Relations further strengthened after the US declared Pakistan a major non-NATO ally in 2002 which allowed Pakistan to be given aid of over $25 billion. Pakistan also appreciated the efforts that the US made for the relief of Pakistan after the 2005 earthquake.

The United States today engages in extensive economic, social, and scientific assistance as well as vital military relations with Pakistan. The United States is also  Pakistan’s second largest supplier of military equipment. 

According to the Ministry of Interior the current wave of terrorism in Pakistan started in 2000 and poses as a serious threat to the citizens on Pakistan. Terrorism declined over the duration of recent years after strict military actions after its peak in 2009. According to South Asian Terrorism Portal Index (SATP), terrorism in Pakistan has declined by 89% in 2017 since its peak years in 2009.

A number of reasons were responsible for the decaying law and order situation in Pakistan including the war against terrorism in Afghanistan, internal issues as well as international meddling. All these factors have played a negative role.

To counter the terrorist attacks Pakistan launched a pursuit of Al-Qaeda members in 2004. In 2012 an All Parties Conference was held and it was decided that negotiation shall take place with the militants as a first option in order to counter terrorism. A military operation named, Operation Zarb-e-Azb was started against Politicial and Terrorist Parties like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Jundallah, al-Qaeda, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Haqqani network.

Pakistan Government and Army have joined forces and worked together in order to fight against terrorism and have successfully over the years countered terrorist attacks while reducing the number of attacks in Pakistan.