‘Arrest Asim Munir’: Ex-Pentagon Official Slams Pakistan As India, US Push For Tougher UN Sanctions On LeT, JeM

In a sharp escalation of rhetoric amid renewed India–US counterterrorism coordination, former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has called for the arrest of Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir and urged Washington to formally designate Islamabad a state sponsor of terrorism.

Rubin’s remarks, made in an interview with ANI, come at a time when New Delhi and Washington are jointly pressing the United Nations for stronger punitive measures against Pakistan-based terror networks Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and their proxies.

What did Rubin say about Munir and Pakistan?

Rubin criticised the Trump administration for hosting Munir during his visit to Washington earlier this year, arguing that Pakistan continues to sponsor terrorism while seeking international legitimacy.

“There is no strategic logic for the United States embracing Pakistan,” he said. “If Asim Munir comes to the United States, he should be arrested rather than honoured. Pakistan should be designated a state sponsor of terrorism, period.”

What were Rubin’s views on India-US ties?

The former Bush-era defence official also said the US owed India an apology for what he described as “mistreatment” over the past year.

He referred to the turbulent period marked by trade tensions, including the hefty 50% US tariff on Indian imports, and political unease over President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he ended the India–Pakistan conflict triggered by the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack.

What was the fallout of the Pahalgam attack?

That attack, which killed 26 people, was claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), a LeT proxy. India responded with Operation Sindoor on May 7, striking terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and eliminating over 100 terrorists.

The confrontation lasted three days, during which Pakistan sought a ceasefire on May 10. Trump has since routinely credited himself for de-escalating the crisis and even hinted at Nobel Prize worthiness, claims India has firmly rejected, clarifying that the ceasefire was achieved bilaterally.

What are India, US doing about counter-terrorism?

Rubin’s remarks come against the backdrop of intensified India–US engagement on counterterrorism.

At the Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting on counterterrorism and a parallel “designations dialogue” held on December 3 in New Delhi, both sides pushed for additional UN sanctions on LeT, JeM, ISIS, and al-Qaida affiliates.

This includes global asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes under the UN 1267 sanctions regime.

What did the India-US joint statement say about counter-terrorism?

India thanked Washington for designating the TRF as both a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).

The joint statement issued after the talks underscored the need for “sustained and comprehensive” efforts to combat terrorism, including the growing use of drones, UAVs, and artificial intelligence for terror activities.

What was the outcome of the India-US talks?

Both sides unequivocally condemned cross-border terrorism and expressed concern over recent attacks—including the Pahalgam strike and the terror incident near Delhi’s Red Fort, emphasising that perpetrators must be held accountable.

Discussions also covered terrorist recruitment, financing, cyber threats, and the misuse of advanced technologies.

New Delhi and Washington reiterated their commitment to strengthening cooperation through training, intelligence-sharing, cybersecurity collaboration, and support within multilateral platforms such as the UN, Quad, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The delegations were led by India’s External Affairs Ministry Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism) Vinod Bahade and US State Department Senior Bureau Official for Counterterrorism Monica Jacobsen.