India dealt a decisive blow in Operation Sindoor, says Michael Rubin
In the aftermath of India’s Operation Sindoor—its swift and targeted military retaliation to a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam—former Pentagon official Michael Rubin has strongly criticized Pakistan, asserting that it suffered a “very, very bad” defeat and was forced to seek a ceasefire under pressure.
Rubin, speaking to ANI, said that India not only succeeded on the battlefield but also outmaneuvered Pakistan on the global diplomatic stage. “India won this both diplomatically and militarily. The reason why India won diplomatically is that all attention is now on Pakistan’s terrorist sponsorship,” he said.
Pakistan’s swift call for ceasefire seen as sign of weakness
Describing Pakistan’s response to the Indian offensive, Rubin remarked that Islamabad was forced to scramble for a ceasefire once its airfields were neutralized.
“Pakistan went running to try to achieve a ceasefire like a scared dog with its tail between its legs,” Rubin said, underscoring the speed with which Pakistan sought to de-escalate once key strategic assets were compromised. He added that the country could not escape the perception of a crushing defeat. “Pakistan cannot run away from the reality that it lost very, very badly.”
Blurred lines between terrorists and military, says Rubin
Rubin also pointed to troubling signals from within Pakistan’s security establishment. He noted reports that Pakistani military officers were seen attending funerals of slain terrorists—a gesture that he says further exposes the close ties between militant groups and the Pakistani state.
“The fact that Pakistani officers in uniform attended the funeral of terrorists shows that there is no differentiation between a terrorist and a member of the ISI or the Pakistani armed forces. The world is going to demand that Pakistan extract the rot from its own system,” he asserted.
India shifts global narrative, Pakistan left stunned
According to Rubin, India’s response was not only measured and precise but also successfully reframed the international conversation around terrorism in South Asia. “Diplomatically, India changed the conversation; militarily, Pakistan is shocked,” he said.
Criticizing Pakistan’s repeated denials and self-perception of victory in past conflicts, Rubin stated: “Pakistan has started every single war with India and yet convinced itself that somehow it has won. It’s going to be very different…to convince themselves that they won this 4-day war.”
