Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has compared Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir to Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. His criticism came just days after Munir warned that Pakistan could “take down half the world” with its nuclear weapons.

Rubin said, “Asim Munir is Osama Bin Laden in a suit and there will be no amount of concession that will be given to Pakistan that is going to change his ideology or the Pakistani elite he represents.”

Munir made his statement during an event in Tampa, Florida. He declared, “We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we’ll take half the world down with us.”

‘Pakistan Has Lost Legitimacy’

Rubin said Pakistan’s nuclear threats show it “has lost its right to be a legitimate state.” He urged Washington to rethink its entire policy toward Islamabad. He also pressed the Trump administration to strip Pakistan of its non-NATO ally status. “Pakistan should be the first major non-NATO ally to be listed as a state sponsor of terrorism and should not be a member of the US Central Command anymore,” Rubin said.

Demand to Bar Munir From the US

Rubin called for Munir to be declared persona non grata in America. He said Munir should be denied a visa “until he explains himself and apologises.” Munir’s latest trip to the United States is his second state-level visit. It has raised questions about its possible political consequences. During a previous trip, Donald Trump welcomed Munir to the Oval Office and treated him like a head of state — a rare move for a foreign military chief.

Comparisons With Past Military Rulers

Munir’s swift rise to power has drawn comparisons with Pakistan’s former Army chiefs Zia ul Haq, Ayub Khan, and Pervez Musharraf. All three overthrew elected governments and ruled the country.

Seen as Pakistan’s ‘De Facto’ Leader

In Washington, many now view Munir as the “de facto” leader of Pakistan. Yet at home, he faces political instability, economic problems, and growing opposition that challenge his authority.