US military strategist criticizes Trump administration for failing to block IMF aid to Pakistan

Michael Rubin, a military strategist affiliated with the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute, has sharply criticized the Trump administration for enabling a \$1 billion IMF bailout package to Pakistan, especially given Pakistan’s ongoing state-sponsored support for terrorism. Rubin, who taught at the Naval Postgraduate School until 2021, argued that by funneling money to Pakistan, the IMF is effectively bailing out China, as Pakistan is heavily influenced by Beijing. He noted that Pakistan’s Gwadar port was a key part of China’s strategic ambitions, and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has left Islamabad \$40 billion in debt.

Rubin joined other American security experts in declaring that India emerged victorious in the recent limited conflict with Pakistan, accusing Islamabad of bluffing about its ability to impose costs on New Delhi. Instead, Rubin said, Pakistan retreated “like a scared dog with its tail between its legs” to secure a ceasefire. He dismissed the attempts by Pakistan’s military to spin the outcome, insisting that they suffered a decisive defeat, including damage to key air bases and military installations.

In an op-ed published Wednesday, Rubin condemned the U.S. for not preventing the IMF from releasing the bailout funds to Pakistan, which he described as one of the “world’s most corrupt countries.” He emphasized that the IMF’s decision came shortly after terrorists based in Pakistan infiltrated India and brutally murdered non-Muslims in front of their families. Rubin argued that providing \$1 billion to a terror-linked, pro-China regime at a time when the White House was trying to reduce tensions between two nuclear-armed neighbors was not merely about Pakistan—it was also a clear challenge to President Donald Trump by the IMF.