Washington DC [US]: Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), has stated that Pakistan is the aggressor in the current India-Pakistan conflict due to its continued support for terrorism, while India remains the victim.
In an interview with media, Rubin criticized Pakistan’s actions and called on the United States to officially designate Pakistan as a “state sponsor of terror” — a designation that would significantly alter Washington’s engagement with Islamabad.
“Pakistan started the conflict with its support for terrorism. Indians were the victims,” Rubin said. “While I was initially critical that Prime Minister Modi took so long to respond, it’s now clear the Indian military was carefully planning and has proven itself to be far more capable.”
Rubin further claimed that Pakistan’s leadership, including Army Chief Gen. Asim Munir, is scrambling to save face, even as it continues to deepen the crisis.
“Pakistan is thrashing about, looking for a way to save face. But Gen. Asim Munir should understand that when you’re in a hole, stop digging,” Rubin stated, adding, “Only one diplomatic metric matters now: the U.S. must designate Pakistan itself — not just its terror proxies — as a sponsor of terrorism.”
While the U.S. has long designated groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba as terrorist organizations, Rubin said that approach is insufficient.
“It’s time to stop designating the tentacles of the octopus and go after the head,” he added, calling for clear U.S. support for India.
Rubin also pointed out the ideological rhetoric emerging from Pakistan’s top brass. He accused Gen. Munir of promoting divisiveness by suggesting Hindus and Muslims cannot coexist.
“The fact is they do live together in India — and not in Pakistan, because Pakistan has systematically driven out its minorities,” Rubin said. “Every time the Pakistani government fails — economically, politically, socially — it targets minorities to distract the public. That’s the playbook of a failed state.”
In contrast, Rubin praised India’s democratic resilience, stating that India’s inclusive society allows its citizens to confront and discuss challenges openly.
US Response:
Meanwhile, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for immediate de-escalation. He reportedly held separate calls with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to urge restraint.
“We are actively engaged with both sides through diplomatic channels. Our goal is to prevent escalation and avoid regional instability,” Bruce said at Thursday’s press briefing.