‘Asim Munir is Osama Bin Laden in a Suit’: Ex-Pentagon Official Slams Pakistan’s Nuclear Threat
A former Pentagon official, Michael Rubin, has launched a scathing attack on Pakistan, labeling it a “rogue state” and comparing its army chief, General Asim Munir, to Osama bin Laden. The blistering condemnation follows reports that Munir issued a nuclear threat against India while on American soil, a move Rubin called “completely unacceptable” and reminiscent of rhetoric from the Islamic State.
The controversy stems from remarks Munir allegedly made during a private dinner in Tampa, Florida, where he reportedly warned that if Pakistan “goes down, it would take half the world down” with it. Reacting to the comments, Rubin told news agency ANI that Pakistan’s leadership is raising serious questions about its ability to act as a responsible state. “The Field Marshal’s rhetoric is reminiscent of what we’ve heard from the Islamic State,” he said, adding, “Asim Munir is Osama bin Laden in a suit.”
Rubin demanded immediate and severe diplomatic repercussions from Washington, calling for Munir to be banned from the US, for Pakistan to be stripped of its major non-NATO ally status, and for consideration to be given to designating it a state sponsor of terrorism. He slammed American officials for their inaction at the time the alleged threats were made. “Within 30 minutes of when Asim Munir made those comments, he should have been ushered out, taken to Tampa International Airport, and flown out of the United States,” he asserted.
The former Pentagon analyst warned that such nuclear saber-rattling could embolden terrorist groups with links to the Pakistani military and ISI to “go rogue” with nuclear weapons. In his most provocative suggestion, Rubin floated the idea that the international community should consider a “managed decline” of Pakistan, potentially recognizing breakaway regions like Balochistan, and even raised the possibility of future US special forces missions to seize the country’s nuclear arsenal. “It’s coming near time when, in a future administration, other SEAL teams should enter Pakistan to secure its nuclear weapons because the alternative is simply too great to bear,” he said.
Rubin also touched upon the current tensions in US-India relations over trade and New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil, accusing Washington of hypocrisy by pointing out that the US itself buys strategic materials from Moscow. He predicted, however, that the robust US-India partnership would emerge stronger once the current “stress test” is over.
