New Delhi: On Thursday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed skepticism regarding the United States' recent announcement of a partnership with Pakistan to explore its purported 'massive oil reserves.' Tharoor remarked that the US might be harboring 'some illusions' about the potential for oil discovery in Pakistan, adding, 'I wish them luck.'

President Donald Trump revealed the trade agreement with Pakistan, stating that the US would collaborate with Islamabad to develop these oil reserves. However, the specifics of the reserves Trump mentioned remain unclear.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump speculated whether Pakistan could eventually sell oil to India, saying, 'We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive oil reserves.' He also noted that they are in the process of selecting an oil company to lead this initiative.

Responding to Trump's comments, Tharoor stated, 'They may have some illusions about finding oil in Pakistan, I wish them luck.' He further reflected on the historical context, saying, 'We were all one country at one time. I have not seen any reports that there was a great deal of oil to be found in what is today Pakistan.'

Tharoor emphasized India's own energy challenges, mentioning that while some oil has been discovered in regions like Bombay High and Assam, India still imports 86% of its oil and gas needs. 'So I do not know how much they are going to find,' he added, stressing that his primary concern is what the US does in relation to India.

Pakistan has long asserted the existence of significant oil deposits along its coastline, yet efforts to exploit these resources have not yielded results. The country continues to rely on oil imports from the Middle East to satisfy its energy requirements.

In response to the trade agreement, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took to social media to express gratitude to Trump, calling the deal 'historic' and expressing optimism for enhanced cooperation between the two nations.