Asim Munir: 'Osama bin Laden wearing Asim Munir suit', former Pentagon official shows a mirror to the PAK army chief

Posted on 12th Aug 2025 by rohit kumar

A former Pentagon analyst, Michael Rubin, has strongly criticized Pakistan's recent nuclear threats. He described Pakistan as behaving like a rogue nation after threatening remarks made by its army chief on US soil. He compared Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir to Osama bin Laden. The controversy intensified after Asim Munir's remarks, in which he allegedly threatened that if Pakistan is in trouble, it will sink half the world with it. The comments were made during a meeting with US military officials in Tampa, Florida.

 

Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official and Middle East analyst, told ANI that Pakistan's behavior is completely unacceptable and compared the army chief's rhetoric to earlier statements made by ISIS and Osama bin Laden. Rubin said, "Pakistan is raising questions in the minds of many whether it can fulfill the responsibilities of being a nation. The Field Marshal's rhetoric is reminiscent of what has been heard from the Islamic State."

 

'US visa should be banned'

 

Rubin called for immediate diplomatic action in the case, including stripping Pakistan of its status as a major non-NATO ally and declaring it a state sponsor of terrorism. He also suggested that General Munir should be declared persona non grata and his US visa banned.

 

'Should have been kicked out of the meeting'

 

The analyst expressed particular concern over the lack of immediate reaction from US officials present when the alleged remarks were made. He argued that the Pakistani army chief should have been immediately kicked out of the meeting and expelled from the country. "Asim Munir should have been kicked out within 30 minutes of making the comments. He should have been taken to Tampa International Airport and sent out of the US," Rubin said.

 

'Pakistan is a completely different challenge than traditional diplomatic disputes'

 

The former Pentagon official suggested that President Donald Trump's continued engagement with Pakistan could be influenced by external factors. He said Trump's approach was undermining the traditionally strong bipartisan support for the US-India partnership that has strengthened since the George W. Bush administration. Suggesting that Pakistan's nuclear threats could embolden terrorist elements to spread chaos with nuclear weapons, Rubin painted a broader picture of regional instability. He argued that Pakistan presents a challenge quite different from traditional diplomatic disputes.

 

'Americans view terrorism through the prism of grievance'

 

"Americans view terrorism through the prism of grievance. They don't understand the ideological basis of many terrorists. Asim Munir is Osama bin Laden in a suit," he said. Rubin suggested that the international community should consider allowing Pakistan to undergo a managed collapse, possibly including recognition of breakaway regions such as Balochistan. He also raised the possibility of future military intervention to secure Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

 

'US-India relations likely to improve'

 

Rubin suggested that Trump's recent tensions with India over trade and sanctions related to Russian energy purchases were not adversarial, as the US itself buys strategic materials from Russia. He predicted that US-India relations are likely to improve following the change in the current administration's approach. He called the current tensions a test that will ultimately strengthen the partnership.