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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Srinagar (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday criticised his Bihar counterpart over the niqab incident and said that Nitish Kumar might be slowly revealing his true nature.
"Nitish Kumar, who was once considered a secular leader, may be slowly showing his true colours," Abdullah told reporters here on the sidelines of a function.
Abdullah said Kumar removing the face veil of a Muslim woman doctor was wrong and cannot be justified by any means.
"We have seen this kind of incident here several years ago. Have you forgotten how Mehbooba Mufti removed the burqa of a legitimate voter inside a polling station? That act was wrong, and this act (of Kumar) is also wrong.
"If the (Bihar) chief minister did not want to hand over the order to her (Muslim woman), they could have kept her aside. However, to humiliate her like this is totally wrong," the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.
Kumar stirred a huge controversy after he removed the face veil of a Muslim woman at a function earlier this week.
