Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin condemns Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir’s nuclear threat
calls for diplomatic measures
WASHINGTON: Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has strongly condemned Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir’s recent nuclear threat during his visit to the United States, drawing sharp comparisons to terrorist Osama bin Laden. In an interview with ANI, Rubin described Munir’s rhetoric as reminiscent of the language once used by bin Laden, stating, “Asim Munir is Osama bin Laden in a suit.”
Rubin called for the US government to declare General Munir persona non grata, emphasizing that Pakistan’s nuclear threats made on American soil are “completely unacceptable.” He questioned Pakistan’s capacity to fulfill the responsibilities of a sovereign state, suggesting it may be time to reconsider its international standing.
Referring to Munir’s address at an event in Tampa, Florida, where the general reportedly declared, “We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us,” Rubin expressed disappointment that US military officials did not walk out of meetings with the Pakistan army chief, stating, “The fact that US Generals did not walk out of any meeting with Asim Munir should be a cause for resignation.”
Rubin further argued that Pakistan should lose its status as a major non-NATO ally, calling instead for the country to be designated a state sponsor of terrorism and removed from the US Central Command’s list of partners. He insisted that no Pakistani official, including Munir, should be granted American visas until Pakistan provides a satisfactory explanation and apology for the threats.
India criticising Munir’s remarks, described them as “nuclear sabre-rattling” and expressed serious concerns about the integrity of Pakistan’s nuclear command and control. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) pointed to Pakistan’s military establishment’s connections with terrorist groups as a key factor undermining trust. The MEA called it “regrettable” that such threatening comments were made from the soil of a friendly third country.
India however reaffirmed its position and declared that it will not yield to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all necessary steps to protect its national security.
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'Modi will never succeed in suppressing voice of Tamil people': Rahul on 'Jana Nayagan' row
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Centre's "attempt to block" Vijay-starrer "Jana Nayagan" is an attack on Tamil culture, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will never succeed in "suppressing the voice of the Tamil people".
Gandhi's remarks come on a day he is on a visit to poll-bound Tamil Nadu where the row over actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamil film has snowballed into a major issue.
The producer of the film approached the Supreme Court, challenging a January 9 interim order of the Madras High Court that stayed a single-judge direction to grant the CBFC clearance to the movie.
The Madras High Court has left the fate of the film, which has drawn attention for its political overtones, in limbo.
In a post on X, Gandhi said, "The I&B Ministry's attempt to block 'Jana Nayagan' is an attack on Tamil culture."
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"Mr Modi, you will never succeed in suppressing the voice of the Tamil people," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
KVN Productions LLP has filed an appeal against the order passed by a division bench of the high court.
Vijay recently launched his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). "Jana Nayagan", which is widely publicised as Vijay's final film before his full-fledged entry into politics, was slated for a Pongal release on January 9.
However, the film ran into last-minute hurdles after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) did not issue certification in time.
On January 9, the division bench's order came hours after Justice PT Asha directed the CBFC to give clearance to "Jana Nayagan", setting aside the film board's directive to refer the matter to a review committee.
The first bench, comprising Chief Justice M M Shrivastava and G Arul Murugan, on an appeal filed by the CBFC, granted an interim stay against the single judge's verdict.
Earlier, allowing the plea of KVN Productions seeking a direction to CBFC to issue a censor certificate, Justice Asha said once the board had decided to grant the certificate, the chairperson had no power to send the matter to the review committee.
The film board immediately preferred an appeal against the order.
Additional Solicitor General ARL Sundaresan and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared through video conferencing, outlined the grounds for the appeal before the division bench.
The January 6 letter of CBFC, which was communicated to the producer of the film, informing him that the matter was referred to the revising committee, was not at all under challenge. But the single judge set aside the letter and gave the above direction.
In its order, the division bench said the petition was filed on January 6, and the CBFC was not granted sufficient opportunity to file its reply.
There shall be a stay, the bench added and ordered notice to the producer of the movie and posted the matter to January 21.
