Former US Department of Defense official Michael Rubin has strongly criticised Washington’s recent approach toward South Asia, stating that the United States should apologise to India for “mistreating” it over the past year.
In a recent interview with news agency ANI, Rubin also called for Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir to be arrested if he enters the US, arguing that Pakistan should be designated a “state sponsor of terrorism”.
Rubin, who served during the George W. Bush administration, referred to Munir’s visit to the White House earlier in June. He said there was “no strategic logic” behind the US aligning itself with Pakistan, adding that Munir should have been detained instead of being welcomed.
“There is no strategic logic for the United States embracing Pakistan. It should be designated a state sponsor of terrorism, period. If Asim Munir comes to the United States, he should be arrested rather than honoured,” Rubin said.
Rubin also emphasised the need for the US to repair its relationship with India.
“What we need is quiet diplomacy behind the scenes, and at some point, a more vocal apology from the United States for the way India has been treated over the past year,” he added.
He noted that while President Donald Trump “does not like to apologise”, the interests of global democracies should come before individual political preferences.
Growing US–India Tensions
The remarks come amid ongoing strain in the US-India relationship. The Trump administration imposed a steep 50% tariff on imports from India, adding financial pressure between the two countries. US officials have also been openly critical of New Delhi across several policy areas.
Another source of tension is Trump’s repeated claim that he played a pivotal role in “ending the India-Pakistan conflict” following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people lost their lives. The situation escalated when India conducted strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan under Operation Sindoor on May 7, killing over 100 militants.
The conflict lasted three days and ended on May 10 after Pakistan sought a ceasefire. While Trump has frequently claimed credit—at one point even hinting he deserved a Nobel Prize—India has firmly rejected the assertion, clarifying that the ceasefire was achieved through bilateral channels without external mediation.
