U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio used Pakistan’s Independence Day to signal Washington’s intention to deepen economic ties with Islamabad, saying the United States wants to “explore new areas of economic cooperation, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons, and foster dynamic business partnerships.” In a State Department statement released late 13 Aug. Washington time, Rubio also thanked Pakistan for its cooperation on counterterrorism and trade. The overture builds on a trade accord the two countries announced last month that Pakistan says will reduce tariffs and spur U.S. investment. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal has since invited American companies to take equity stakes in mining ventures in the resource-rich southwestern province of Balochistan, home to projects such as the Reko Diq copper-gold deposit, considered one of the world’s largest. Rubio’s comments underscore a warming in bilateral relations after several years of drift, as the United States seeks reliable supplies of critical minerals and Pakistan courts foreign capital to develop its mining and energy sectors.