Asim Munir is Pakistan’s "Osama Bin Laden in suit": Ex-Pentagon official

Mangalore Today News Network

Washington, Aug 12, 2025: Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin slammed Pakistan army chief Asim Munir over his recent nuclear rhetoric, saying that Islamabad was behaving like "a rogue state" with the war mongering. He compared Pakistan’s de facto military ruler with Osama bin Laden, the terrorist behind the 9/11 attack, noting that Munir’s recent remarks were reminiscent of what the world has heard from the Islamic State.

The controversy centres on Field Marshal Asim Munir’s recent remarks, in which he threatened that if Pakistan "goes down, it would take half the world down" with it. The comments were reportedly made during a meeting in Tampa, Florida, in the presence of US military officials. 

India has formally condemned Munir’s threat of nuclear war. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry noted that Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan’s stock-in-trade, and expressed regret that such remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country. 

What The Ex-US Official Said

"Pakistan’s threats on American soil are completely unacceptable," Rubin said in an interview with the news agency ANI.

#WATCH | Washington DC, USA | On upcoming meeting between US and Russia, Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin says, "...Asim Munir is Osama Bin Laden in a suit..."

He says, "Donald Trump is a businessman and is used to horse-trading... He does not understand that a bad peace… pic.twitter.com/Cra1y24e19

— ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2025

The former US official pointed out that Pakistan’s nuclear threats could provide cover for terrorist elements to "go rogue" with nuclear weapons. He argued that Pakistan represents a fundamentally different challenge from traditional diplomatic disputes.

"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," he said.

Rubin further noted that Munir’s remarks are raising questions in many people’s minds about whether Pakistan can fulfil the responsibilities of being a state.

"The Field Marshal’s rhetoric is reminiscent of what we’ve heard from the Islamic State," he said.

Rubin suggested that the international community should consider allowing Pakistan to undergo what he termed a "managed decline," potentially including recognition of breakaway regions such as Balochistan. He even raised the possibility of future military intervention to secure Pakistan’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.

According to Rubin, there is no reason why the USA should consider Pakistan a major non-NATO ally. He said, "Pakistan should be the first major non-NATO ally to be listed as a state sponsor of terrorism, and should not be a member of the US Central Command anymore."

Calling for a severe diplomatic action, he said, "Asim Munir should be persona non grata in the USA and never get an American Visa, along with any Pakistani official, till Pakistan explains itself and apologises."