Indians have a habit of running to find their ear without checking if the ear is in place already or not. Same is the case with regards to this 'discovery' of Lithium and if you think US is for Lithium then well
Coming back to your question about US presence oh well we will prefer US over India in this case.
US can remain in the region, improve its relations further with Pakistan army and both can protect the interests of all there i.e US, Afghanistan, Pakistan.
y u.s went to iraq-->4 oil,y u.s is against iran u also know,oil has a major role in it.
u.s has wasted 10 yrs here ,wat u think it is 4 gud relations with pak,afgh ,they have an eye on another things u know better.if they are giving billions to u,spending billions 4 there soldiers for wat gud relations,i think u better know every month a blunt warning is given to pak,last time for ny plot.so still u think that u.s is 4 relations,then change ur point abt it.past history shows how u.s uses others.like afgh against russia,iran against iraq.