Former Pentagon Analyst Slams Pakistan’s Nuclear Posturing, Urges Swift U.S. Action

Former Pentagon analyst Michael Rubin has delivered a scathing rebuke of Pakistan’s recent nuclear rhetoric, branding the country a “rogue state” following alleged threats made by its army chief on American soil.

The controversy centers on remarks attributed to Pakistan Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir during a meeting in Tampa, Florida, with U.S. military officials. Munir allegedly warned that if Pakistan “goes down, it would take half the world down” with it. Calling the comments “completely unacceptable,” Rubin told ANI that such language mirrors the rhetoric of terrorist groups.

“Pakistan is raising questions about whether it can meet the responsibilities of being a sovereign state,” Rubin said. “This rhetoric is reminiscent of what we’ve heard from the Islamic State.”

Rubin urged Washington to respond decisively — including revoking Pakistan’s status as a Major Non-NATO Ally, considering its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, and imposing a travel ban on Munir. He criticized U.S. officials for inaction at the time, asserting, “Within 30 minutes of those remarks, Munir should have been escorted to the airport and put on a flight out of the United States.”

The former Pentagon official also questioned President Donald Trump’s current approach to Pakistan, suggesting it marks a significant departure from the bipartisan U.S.-India strategic partnership built since the George W. Bush era.

Warning that Pakistan’s nuclear threats could embolden extremist elements within its military and intelligence apparatus, Rubin likened Munir to “Osama bin Laden in a suit.” He stressed that the ideological motivations of such actors are often underestimated in U.S. policy circles.

In one of his most controversial proposals, Rubin called on the international community to consider a “managed decline” of Pakistan, including potential recognition of breakaway regions like Balochistan. He even raised the prospect of U.S. special forces one day securing Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal to prevent catastrophic misuse.

Addressing broader U.S.-India tensions over trade and Russian energy imports, Rubin accused Washington of double standards, noting America’s own strategic purchases from Moscow. He predicted that once the current “stress test” in bilateral ties passes, the U.S.-India relationship will emerge stronger.

Rubin’s remarks highlight growing alarm in policy circles over Pakistan’s nuclear command, political stability, and potential threat to global security — dangers, he warns, the United States can no longer afford to minimize.