🛢️ Trump’s Oil Shock: U-S-Pak Energy Deal & India Jolt Ahead! 🇺🇸🌏
- MediaFx
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
TL;DR:Today, July 31, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced a major U.S.–Pakistan energy deal to help develop Pakistan’s claimed "massive oil reserves" and hinted that “maybe they’ll sell oil to India someday.” This comes just after he imposed a 25% tariff and additional penalties on Indian goods and harshly labeled India and Russia as “dead economies.” While Pakistan’s officials welcomed the deal, experts question whether its reserves are real or just seismic hype. In India, political leaders slammed the Modi government, saying Washington is cozying up to Pakistan at India’s expense. The move may reshape energy and geopolitical ties in South Asia.
Historic U.S.–Pakistan Oil Deal — But What’s the Real Story?
• Trump posted on Truth Social: “We’ve just concluded a deal with Pakistan … they have massive oil reserves … who knows, maybe they’ll be selling oil to India someday!”• Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif thanked Trump, calling the trade agreement “historic” and praising deepening ties.• The deal includes U.S. support for exploration across Pakistan’s provinces — including insurgency-hit Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and KPK — and aims to lower tariffs on Pakistani exports to the U.S.
💰 But Are Pakistan’s Oil Reserves Really "Massive"?
• Actually, Pakistan had only about 353 million barrels of proven reserves in 2016 — enough for less than two years of consumption at current rates (~556,000 barrels/day).• Reports of offshore findings (2024 Indus Basin survey) hint at possibilities, but no commercial drilling or commercial oil has been confirmed yet.• Experts won’t call them "reserves" — only geological prospects. Truly exploiting them could take $5 billion and 4–5 years.
🔥 Trump’s India Hit — Tariffs & Jabs on "Dead Economy"
• Just before the oil announcement, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Indian imports beginning August 1, along with unspecified penalties over India’s Russian energy and military purchases.• He also tweeted: “India and Russia are dead economies… we do very little business with India” — despite $129 billion in bilateral trade in 2024. Indian markets dipped, and rupee weakened slightly.
🗣️ Indian Political Backlash
• Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera slammed the Modi govt: “In race to please America they've spurned old friends … now US signs oil deal with Pakistan.”• Government sources say India will take all steps to protect national interest and push for fair trade talks—despite Trump’s pressure.
🌏 What This Means for South Asia:
Angle | Why It Matters |
Energy geopolitics | Move could shift power in regional oil distribution if Pakistan truly exports to India. But infrastructure & politics still huge hurdles. |
U.S. regional pivot | Washington appears to be tilting toward Pakistan to counter China and co-opt Islamabad economically — while punishing India trade-wise. |
India’s options | With tariffs and pressure, New Delhi may reboot alliances or seek alternatives—energy import patterns may shift. |
👀 MediaFx People’s Take:
From the people’s perspective, this deal reeks of unequal power politics: a rich superpower helping a weaker neighbor for its own gain, while hammering India with tariffs. Pakistan’s “massive” reserves may just be seismic mirages until proven. Meanwhile, India gets slapped economically, even as its farmers and small businesses brace for the fallout.
We stand for real equality — not deals that privilege the powerful and leave working class folks paying the price. The U.S. stampede isn’t for India’s wellbeing. Time Indian policymakers woke up and put people first, not mega-corporate interests.
🤔 What do you think — could Pakistan actually become an oil supplier to India one day? Share below!
