Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has sharply criticised Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, over his recent nuclear war rhetoric, calling Islamabad’s stance “rogue state behaviour” and likening Munir to Osama bin Laden. Rubin said the comments, made reportedly in Tampa, Florida, in the presence of US military officials, echoed the language of the Islamic State.

The controversy stems from Munir’s threat that if Pakistan “goes down, it would take half the world down” with it. India has condemned the remarks, with the Foreign Ministry stating that “nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan’s stock-in-trade” and expressing regret they were made “from the soil of a friendly third country.”

“Pakistan’s threats on American soil are completely unacceptable,” Rubin told ANI, warning that such rhetoric could embolden extremist factions to “go rogue” with nuclear weapons. He argued that Pakistan poses a challenge far beyond normal diplomatic disputes, as its leadership demonstrates ideological hostility rather than strategic restraint.

“Asim Munir is Osama bin Laden in a suit,” Rubin said, questioning whether Pakistan can meet the basic responsibilities of statehood. He urged the international community to consider a “managed decline” of Pakistan, including recognising breakaway regions like Balochistan, and even suggested future US special operations to secure its nuclear arsenal.

Rubin called for Washington to revoke Pakistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, list it as a state sponsor of terrorism, and remove it from US Central Command partnerships. “Asim Munir should be persona non grata in the USA,” he said, adding that no Pakistani official should receive an American visa until Islamabad issues an explanation and formal apology.

He concluded that the risks of inaction are too great, warning, “The alternative is simply too dangerous to bear.”

Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has sharply criticised Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, over his recent nuclear war rhetoric, calling Islamabad’s stance “rogue state behaviour” and likening Munir to Osama bin Laden. Rubin said the comments, made reportedly in Tampa, Florida, in the presence of US military officials, echoed the language of the Islamic State.

The controversy stems from Munir’s threat that if Pakistan “goes down, it would take half the world down” with it. India has condemned the remarks, with the Foreign Ministry stating that “nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan’s stock-in-trade” and expressing regret they were made “from the soil of a friendly third country.”

“Pakistan’s threats on American soil are completely unacceptable,” Rubin told ANI, warning that such rhetoric could embolden extremist factions to “go rogue” with nuclear weapons. He argued that Pakistan poses a challenge far beyond normal diplomatic disputes, as its leadership demonstrates ideological hostility rather than strategic restraint.

“Asim Munir is Osama bin Laden in a suit,” Rubin said, questioning whether Pakistan can meet the basic responsibilities of statehood. He urged the international community to consider a “managed decline” of Pakistan, including recognising breakaway regions like Balochistan, and even suggested future US special operations to secure its nuclear arsenal.

Rubin called for Washington to revoke Pakistan’s designation as a major non-NATO ally, list it as a state sponsor of terrorism, and remove it from US Central Command partnerships. “Asim Munir should be persona non grata in the USA,” he said, adding that no Pakistani official should receive an American visa until Islamabad issues an explanation and formal apology.

He concluded that the risks of inaction are too great, warning, “The alternative is simply too dangerous to bear.”