US military strategist Michael Rubin has slammed Pakistan for rushing to secure a ceasefire after Indian forces carried out massive strikes leading to heavy losses on key military installations, saying Islamabad “went running like a scared dog with its tail between its legs” after suffering heavy losses.
Michael Rubin, a strategist at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, also criticised the Trump administration for backing a $1 billion IMF bailout for Pakistan, despite its long-standing record of sponsoring terrorism as state policy
“By sending money to Pakistan, the IMF is effectively bailing out China as well. Pakistan has become a satrapy of China. Its Gwadar port was the first pearl in China’s string, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has left Islamabad $40 billion in debt
“There’s no way Pakistan’s military can hide the fact that they didn’t just lose, but lost very badly,” Rubin said in a video, calling out Islamabad’s propaganda after Indian strikes hit key Pakistani air bases and military sites.
According to multiple reports, the Indian Air Force targeted 11 Pakistan Air Force (PAF) bases, inflicting serious and long-term damage, and destroying 20 per cent of Pakistan’s air force infrastructure.
While Pakistan initially dismissed these claims as exaggerated, satellite imagery has since backed India’s assertions. As the dust settles, international media are also acknowledging the heavy damage inflicted by India during the final night of fighting.
Operation Sindoor and rising tensions
On 8 May, Indian forces launched precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan, killing top leaders of groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The strikes targeted nine key locations across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including major terror hubs in Bahawalpur and Muridke.
These attacks significantly escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. In retaliation, Pakistan attempted several missile and drone strikes, all of which were successfully intercepted by Indian forces.
