New Delhi/New York: As tensions escalate between India and Pakistan in the wake of a deadly terror attack in Kashmir, prominent U.S. national security expert Michael Rubin has called on New Delhi to adopt a long-term, global counterterrorism strategy inspired by Israel’s infamous “Operation Wrath of God”.
In an interview with NDTV, Rubin backed India’s recently launched Operation Sindoor but emphasized the need for a more expansive and enduring campaign akin to Israel’s covert retaliation following the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, where 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September.
“Israel quietly, over subsequent years, went out anywhere in the world to eliminate the terrorists,” Rubin stated. “I do think Prime Minister Modi needs to take a playbook out of the late Golda Meir of Israel’s hands.”
His remarks come days after a gruesome terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 civilians were reportedly forced to prove their religion before being executed. The Resistance Front, believed to be a proxy for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the massacre.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded strongly, declaring that India would chase down terrorists “to the ends of the Earth,” signaling a potential shift toward a more aggressive security doctrine.
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Rubin warned of the dangers posed by diplomatic complacency in the face of terrorism. “While diplomats scramble for quiet, the terrorists regroup,” he said, referencing the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. “We can’t simply have a pattern in which Pakistan strikes out with its proxy terrorists.”
While commending India’s precision and resolve, Rubin was critical of the perceived delays in launching Operation Sindoor. “India is acting very deliberately, very precisely. Pakistan seems to be flailing,” he said.
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Responding to Islamabad’s denials of involvement in cross-border terrorism, Rubin said: “If Pakistan truly wants to maintain the fiction that it is not a terror sponsor, it needs to close the terror camps and extradite every terrorist—even if they wear a military uniform.”
Rubin’s call for a tougher Indian counterterrorism response adds to the growing chorus of voices urging New Delhi to recalibrate its approach to national security, particularly in light of persistent threats from Pakistan-backed militant groups.