Washington, D.C. [US], June 19: Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, has issued a scathing critique of Pakistan during Army Chief General Asim Munir’s ongoing visit to the United States, raising doubts about both Pakistan’s sincerity and U.S. motivations, particularly those of former President Donald Trump.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Rubin criticized Trump for allegedly being naive about Pakistan’s geopolitical behavior. “Everyone sees Pakistan for what it is, except perhaps Donald Trump,” he said. “While Donald Trump and the Commander of U.S. Central Command may whisper sweet nothings into Pakistan’s ears, it’s because they want something from Pakistan.”
Rubin described U.S.-Pakistan relations as highly transactional, alleging that Pakistan has historically exploited these ties for financial and strategic benefits under the guise of partnership. “This is diplomatic rhetoric and not reality,” Rubin said. “Pakistan pretends to cooperate with the U.S. just to gain immunity and funding.”
He also speculated that Pakistan could be part of U.S. contingency plans in the event of a conflict with Iran—particularly concerning Iran’s nuclear program. Rubin suggested that Pakistan might be asked to assist with infiltrating Iran or managing its nuclear materials post-conflict.
“If Iran’s nuclear program is dismantled, it may require U.S. military involvement, and Pakistan might be involved in granting access or managing nuclear materials. But if that aligns with Pakistan’s own interests, we shouldn’t be paying them to do it,” he asserted.
Rubin emphasized that while Iran and Pakistan may occasionally cooperate, they remain strategic competitors. He claimed that Pakistan stands to benefit if Iran’s nuclear ambitions are curbed, aligning its interest with the U.S. but potentially using that as leverage for concessions.
He accused Pakistan of acting insincerely and avoiding accountability, stating, “Pakistan is a terrorist state and is terrified of being held accountable for its actions. It seeks to embrace the U.S. diplomatically only to gain immunity and financial support. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what Asim Munir is doing now.”
Rubin’s remarks came as General Munir visited the White House for a meeting with former President Trump—a rare event for a Pakistani military chief. The last such engagement was in 2001, when General Pervez Musharraf, as Pakistan’s military ruler, met with then-President George W. Bush.
Meanwhile, protests erupted in Washington, D.C., led by overseas Pakistanis outside the Four Seasons hotel, where Munir attended an event. Protesters shouted slogans such as “Pakistanio ke Qatil” and “Islamabad ke Qatil,” condemning Munir’s alleged role in suppressing dissent in Pakistan.
The protest video shared by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan’s political party, showed banners and screens labeling Munir as a “Mass Murderer” and accusing him of killing democracy. Messages included: “Democracy dies when guns speak” and “Asim Munir, your time is up. Pakistan will rise.”