PM Modi's stand a historic moment in US-India ties: Ex-Pentagon official

New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 12, 2025 05:40 IST

Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has backed India ahead of the upcoming US-Russia Alaska meeting, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stand for the country’s rights will be remembered as a historic moment in bilateral ties.

"PM Modi standing up for India’s rights is going to be the episode that historians remember where the US truly learnt that you cannot kick India around," Rubin told ANI, adding that Donald Trump was wrong to target New Delhi in this case.

Rubin criticised US policy for its double standards on energy trade with Russia.

"US purchases uranium hexafluoride and other strategic minerals from Russia US talks about gas from Azerbaijan as optimal, whereas the majority of its supply is Russian or Iranian," he said.

"India is right to stand up for its rights Once this episode passes, India-US relations will improve significantly," he added.

On the broader geopolitical landscape, Rubin described Trump as “a businessman used to horse-trading” who “does not understand that a bad peace deal can actually advance war” and has “the ambition to win the Nobel Peace Prize.”

RUBIN COMPARES ASIM MUNIR TO OSAMA BIN LADEN

Turning to Pakistan, Rubin drew a stark comparison. “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,” he said.

He also warned about Islamabad’s nuclear threats. “The fact that Pakistan is threatening half of the world with nuclear weapons is a clear indication that it has lost its right to be a legitimate state It is near time when future administrations should enter Pakistan to secure its nuclear weapons because the alternative is simply too great to bear.”

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With inputs from agencies