Former US Pentagon official Michael Rubin has sharply criticised Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for his recent comments about nuclear weapons. Rubin accused Islamabad of acting like “a rogue state” and compared Munir to Osama bin Laden, saying his statements echoed the kind of threats made by the Islamic State.

The remarks at the centre of the row were reportedly made by Munir during a meeting in Tampa, Florida, in the presence of American military officials. He allegedly said that if Pakistan “goes down, it would take half the world down” with it.

India’s Foreign Ministry formally denounced Munir’s comments, calling them “nuclear sabre-rattling” and “Pakistan’s stock-in-trade.” The ministry expressed regret that such remarks were delivered on the soil of a friendly third country.

“Unacceptable” remarks on American soil

Speaking to news agency ANI, Rubin said, “Pakistan’s threats on American soil are completely unacceptable.” He warned that such nuclear rhetoric could give cover for terrorist groups to “go rogue” with nuclear weapons.

Rubin also criticised how Americans sometimes misunderstand terrorism, saying, “Americans look at terrorism through the lens of grievance… They don’t understand the ideological underpinnings of many terrorists. Asim Munir is Osama bin Laden in a suit.”

The former US official argued that Munir’s words have raised doubts about Pakistan’s ability to act responsibly as a state. “The Field Marshal’s rhetoric is reminiscent of what we’ve heard from the Islamic State,” he said.

He suggested that the global community should think about allowing what he called a “managed decline” of Pakistan, even considering recognition of regions like Balochistan as independent. Rubin also floated the idea of future military action to secure Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

“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,” Rubin said.

Rubin questioned why the US still considers Pakistan a major non-NATO ally and said it should be removed from the US Central Command’s framework. “Pakistan should be the first major non-NATO ally to be listed as a state sponsor of terrorism,” he stated.

He also urged Washington to ban Munir and other Pakistani officials from entering the US until Islamabad “explains itself and apologises,” adding, “Asim Munir should be persona non grata in the USA and never get an American visa.”