![\"'Bragging](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-130079646,imgsize-38874,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/-.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nA former Pentagon official has mocked Pakistan\u2019s military credibility amid rising tensions around the Iran conflict, dismissing suggestions that Islamabad could play any meaningful role in potential US operations. Michael Rubin said Pakistan was prone to exaggerating its capabilities, describing it as \u201c10 out of 10 in fantasy\u201d when it comes to projecting military strength.Speaking to ANI on the possibility of Pakistan offering ground support to the United States, Rubin said such a move was unlikely both diplomatically and practically. \u201cFor diplomatic reasons, I don\u2019t see the Pakistanis doing anything, and frankly, the Pakistanis don\u2019t have the capability,\u201d he said, adding that the country had a pattern of \u201cbragging about capabilities they don\u2019t have\u201d.He also pointed to growing frustration in the Gulf, claiming Saudi Arabia was disappointed with Pakistan despite a recently signed mutual defence agreement. Rubin dismissed the pact outright, saying it made \u201cabout as much sense as making a military alliance with Papua New Guinea\u201d, in remarks that underline scepticism in some US policy circles about Islamabad\u2019s reliability.His comments come as Pakistan attempts to position itself as a mediator in the escalating crisis between Iran and the United States. Iran\u2019s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, said efforts to halt the war were approaching a \u201ccritical\u201d and \u201csensitive\u201d stage, though he offered no details.The diplomatic push coincides with a sharp escalation on the ground. Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face sweeping attacks on its infrastructure. He warned of the \u201ccomplete demolition\u201d of key facilities, including power plants and bridges, within hours if Tehran failed to comply.Iran has rejected the threat, with its military leadership calling Trump\u2019s remarks \u201cdelusional\u201d and vowing to continue operations against US and Israeli forces. Fresh exchanges of strikes have been reported, with Israel targeting sites in Tehran and Iran launching missiles towards Israeli territory, while Gulf states activated air defences.<\/div>\n\n