Pakistan claims Trump administration approached Islamabad to sell American locomotives

New Delhi: Pakistan has claimed that the Donald Trump administration has approached Islamabad to sell American locomotives and collaborate on assessment studies of the country's mineral reserves.

The discussions on boosting US-Pakistan economic engagement reportedly took place during Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb's visit to the United States in October, according to a report in Pakistani daily The Express Tribune.

During the visit, Aurangzeb is said to have met Raymond Emory Cox, Special Assistant to the US President for International Economic Relations, and Ricky Gill, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the National Security Council, to explore business partnership opportunities, the paper reported.


Gill, an Indian-origin US official, recently received the National Security Council's Distinguished Action Award for his role in ceasefire negotiations between India and Pakistan earlier this year. The award was presented by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The report noted that Pakistan Railways is currently in deep financial distress.