In retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, India launched Operation Sindoor, a rapid and calculated missile offensive targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Conducted over a span of just 25 minutes on Tuesday night, the strikes hit nine separate locations using 24 missiles, reportedly eliminating 100 terrorists and injuring over 60.
Amid mounting tensions, Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon official and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, endorsed India’s actions and sharply criticised Pakistan’s role in fostering extremism. He called on the United States to officially declare Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism, asserting that targeting individual groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba is no longer sufficient.
“We know that Pakistan is home to a myriad of terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba. Unfortunately, because of a lack of concerted counter-terror action, because Pakistani diplomats are playing the West for fools, we now have an expansion of the problem, not only in Pakistan but frankly in Bangladesh as well. What India now needs to do is to cut Pakistan’s jugular. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts. There are no shortcuts anymore,” he said.
Rubin also criticised Pakistan for scapegoating minorities whenever it faces internal dysfunction, calling it the “playbook of a failed state.” He contrasted this with India, which he said demonstrates the possibility of peaceful coexistence among diverse communities. He praised Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for prioritising national security and rallying together across party lines.
Pakistan responded to the missile strikes with arbitrary shelling and gunfire across the Line of Control (LoC), resulting in the deaths of at least 16 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army has launched countermeasures in response.
In anticipation of further escalation, Indian authorities have temporarily closed 24 airports, including major hubs in Srinagar, Chandigarh, Jammu, and Jodhpur, and shut down schools across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan until the weekend.
Rubin warned of broader regional consequences if Pakistan’s support for terrorism remains unchecked, suggesting the threat is spreading to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh.
