In the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which left 26 civilians dead, Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, has called for the United States to officially designate Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism. Rubin also demanded that Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, be labelled as a terrorist.
Speaking to a news agency, Rubin stated, &ldquo;The only reaction that the United States should take is a formal designation of Pakistan as a state sponsor of terror and a designation of Asim Munir as a terrorist.&rdquo;&nbsp;
He added, &ldquo;The only difference between Osama Bin Laden and Asim Munir is that Osama Bin Laden lived in a cave and Asim Munir lives in a palace, but beyond that, the two are the same, and their end should also be the same.&rdquo;
Rubin, a vocal critic of Pakistan&rsquo;s role in fostering terrorism, claimed that Munir&rsquo;s recent statements may have directly incited the attack. &ldquo;Certainly, that speech seemed to green light terror. Asim Munir said that Kashmir is the jugular vein. What India now needs to do is to cut Pakistan's jugular. There's no ifs, ands, or buts. There are no shortcuts anymore. Asim Munir gave the green light,&rdquo; Rubin said.
He also criticised efforts to normalize relations with Pakistan, asserting, &ldquo;It was shocking, but this just goes to show you that you can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. You can pretend that Pakistan isn't a terror sponsor, but it remains a terror sponsor, no matter how much we try to normalize it.&rdquo;
Drawing parallels with the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, Rubin pointed out the similarities between the two attacks. &ldquo;That is exactly what went on when October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. It was directed specifically against Jews and not only against Jews, but among the most liberal Jews who were most prone to wanting peace and normalcy with the Gaza Strip,&rdquo; he said.
He continued, &ldquo;Targeting a vacation resort, middle-class Hindus, it is evident that the Pakistanis are trying the same tactic now. It should be no more successful for Pakistan than it was for Hamas. And frankly, it's now the duty of India to do to Pakistan and to Pakistan's ISI what Israel did to Hamas. It's time to wipe out the leadership of the ISI, to treat them as a designated terror group and demand that every country that is an ally of India, every country that is an ally of the world's largest democracy, do the same.&rdquo;
Rubin also suggested that the timing of the attack was likely intended to divert attention from the visit of US Vice President JD Vance to India. &ldquo;Just as there was a terrorist attack when Bill Clinton went to India, so too does it seem that Pakistan wants to draw attention away from Vice President JD Vance's trip to India. The United States shouldn't let Pakistan get away with it, and we shouldn't pretend that this is some sort of spontaneous action,&rdquo; he remarked.
The former Pentagon official further asserted that although investigations are ongoing, early signs indicate Pakistani involvement. &ldquo;The intelligence will come in over the next few days. I'm sure that there's going to be some signals intelligence. There's going to be human intelligence. But we also know, based on geography, based on precedent, and based on ideological swamp, that it is Pakistan's ISI, that they are logistically and ideologically the only country that is the suspect right now.&rdquo;
Rubin also emphasised Pakistan&rsquo;s longstanding ties to terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, and expressed frustration at the lack of effective counter-terrorism action. &ldquo;We know that Pakistan is home to a myriad of terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba... Unfortunately, because of a lack of concerted counter-terror action, because Pakistani diplomats are playing the West for fools, we now have an expansion of the problem, not only in Pakistan but frankly in Bangladesh as well,&rdquo; Rubin said.
The attack in Pahalgam took place on Tuesday when terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in the Baisaran meadow area of Jammu and Kashmir. The brutal assault has been likened to previous high-profile attacks, particularly the 2019 Pulwama terror strike, and has sparked widespread outrage across India.
In response to the attack, India swiftly announced a series of countermeasures, including the suspension of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and the closure of the integrated check post at Attari. These actions signal a strong diplomatic stance against Pakistan, underscoring India&rsquo;s commitment to combating cross-border terrorism.
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Michael Rubin urges the US to label Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism following the deadly Pahalgam attack

Ex-Pentagon Official Urges US Action Against Pak After Terror Attack

Michael Rubin urges the US to label Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism following the deadly Pahalgam attack

April 24, 2025 | 13:31 IST