Former Pentagon Official Says Pakistan Initiated Conflict, Calls for US Action
Washington DC [US], May 9: Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has stated that Pakistan started the current conflict between India and Pakistan through its support for terrorism, making India the victim of aggression.
Speaking to ANI, Rubin noted that while he initially criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for delaying a response, India’s military had carefully planned its actions and demonstrated significant capability.
Rubin urged the United States to formally designate Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism, asserting that previous designations of individual terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba were insufficient. He claimed that Pakistan’s military leadership had consistently sought to create division, pointing to comments by Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir regarding religious coexistence.
The former Pentagon official also criticized Pakistan’s internal policies, arguing that the country consistently targets minority groups during periods of domestic instability as a distraction from governance failures.
Meanwhile, US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce reaffirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for restraint in the escalating tensions. Rubio has spoken with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, urging immediate de-escalation and direct diplomatic dialogue.
