That evening in Tokyo carried an unusual calm. I was sitting in a well-known yet understated restaurant, one of those places where Japanese wooden interiors release a quiet warmth, soft music hums in the background, and dusk settles gently beyond glass windows. It was the kind of environment that invites reflection. Yet my mind was restless, circling around a single thought: in a few minutes, I would be meeting a man whose name once echoed forcefully in Pakistan’s political arena, known for his uncompromising tone, ideological rigidity, and refusal to bend. A man who, just as suddenly, had disappeared from the noise of power.

Moments later, the door opened.
A lean figure walked in calmly. His appearance was simple, his stride measured, his eyes serious yet transparent. There was no theatrical presence, no political bravado. This was Syed Faisal Raza Abidi. The same man whose speeches once dominated Senate debates, whose statements became headlines, and whose principled stubbornness had ultimately pushed him out of the corridors of power.

After exchanging greetings, our conversation did not drift toward the past. Politics surfaced only briefly, almost reluctantly. The real discussion was about the present and the future. About Africa. About Angola. And about the immense wealth hidden beneath its soil, wealth with the potential to reshape global economics and geopolitical balance.

Syed Faisal Raza Abidi spoke at length about Angola’s transformation. Once ravaged by prolonged civil war, poverty, and instability, Angola has entered a new phase. What lies at the heart of this shift is not speculation, but discovery. Massive mineral reserves, identified in recent years, have drawn unprecedented attention from global powers.

One particular region, spanning nearly 300 square kilometers, has emerged as exceptionally significant. What makes it extraordinary is not just the scale of resources, but accessibility. According to Abidi, the area does not consist of hostile mountains or inaccessible terrain. It is largely surface-level land. Once drilling reached a depth of merely 35 to 40 meters, valuable minerals began to surface.

Diamonds. Copper. Gold. And most critically, Rare Earth Elements.
These elements form the invisible backbone of the modern world. Electric vehicles, semiconductors, smartphones, missile systems, drones, satellites, renewable energy technologies, and space exploration all depend on them. Whoever controls the supply chain of Rare Earth Elements controls a strategic lever of global power. This is why the United States, Japan, Europe, and China are locked in quiet but intense competition to secure access.

What Abidi emphasized was that this project is not theoretical. Mining has already begun. Extraction is underway. The players involved include the Pan African Group and the United Business Group of the United Arab Emirates, with Syed Faisal Raza Abidi serving as Chief Consultant.

The estimated potential value of the mineral reserves in this single zone stands at an astonishing 97 trillion US dollars.

This figure is not merely economic. It is geopolitical.

At this point, Abidi posed a question that lingered heavily in the air:

If Pakistan were to secure even two percent participation in a project of this scale, could it not transform the country’s economic trajectory? Could it not ease debt pressures, stabilize foreign exchange reserves, and restore a measure of financial confidence?

Despite his well-known criticism of governments, Abidi was unequivocal about one thing: his commitment to the state of Pakistan remains firm. He argued that if Pakistan’s state-owned mining enterprises, or platforms such as SIFC, were to become stakeholders, Pakistan could gain not only financially but strategically. Becoming part of the global mineral supply chain would place Pakistan in a position of relevance and respect.

The conversation then shifted inward, toward Pakistan itself. Abidi pointed out that nearly 30 percent of the world’s gold reserves are believed to be located in Gilgit-Baltistan. Yet the region continues to suffer from insecurity, lack of clear policy, and outdated mining practices. With political will, investment protection, and modern technology, Pakistan could itself emerge as a global mineral power.

This was not a political speech. There was no bitterness, no nostalgia, no grievances. Instead, there was a calm realism. A man who had stepped away from political noise to observe global trends, long-term strategies, and hard economic facts.

His presence in Japan was part of this broader vision. Major Japanese corporations such as Mitsubishi and Hitachi, along with South Korea’s Samsung, are closely evaluating mining opportunities in Angola. Meanwhile, the United States is actively seeking alternatives to reduce dependence on China for Rare Earth Elements. Africa is fast becoming the central stage of this new global contest.

Throughout the discussion, one quality stood out: composure. No anger. No regrets. Just conviction that opportunities still exist if the state chooses to act wisely.

That Tokyo evening felt like more than a meeting. It was a message. And a question.

Is Pakistan ready to engage with Africa’s emerging mineral economy? Or will it dismiss yet another opportunity as an unattainable dream?

Perhaps the time has come to distinguish between fantasy and possibility.

A Note on Pakistan–Japan Business Ties
In this evolving landscape, Faisal Wazahat Bari has paid special tribute to Rana Abdul Hussain, President of the Pakistan Japan Business Council, recognizing his consistent efforts in strengthening economic, commercial, and strategic ties between Pakistan and Japan.

In acknowledgment of his credibility, commitment, and deep understanding of both markets, Rana Abdul Hussain has been formally appointed as the Japan Coordinator, a role expected to play a key part in facilitating investment dialogue, mineral-sector cooperation, and broader business engagement between Pakistan, Japan, and emerging markets such as Africa.

This appointment reflects confidence in Rana Abdul Hussain’s leadership and underscores the growing importance of structured, professional representation in advancing Pakistan’s international economic interests.