Did you know Miles Routledge, the YouTuber who joked about nuking India, was once captured by the Taliban?
Routledge, who operates under the name Lord Miles on his YouTube channel, gained initial notoriety in 2021 when he found himself stranded in Afghanistan during the Taliban¡¯s takeover. He narrowly escaped during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal.
Miles Routledge, the British YouTuber who recently sparked outrage by suggesting he might drop a nuclear bomb on India, has a history of courting controversy. In fact, the man behind these incendiary remarks was once captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
When Routledge was captured by Taliban
Routledge, who operates under the name Lord Miles on his YouTube channel, gained initial notoriety in 2021 when he found himself stranded in Afghanistan during the Taliban¡¯s takeover. He narrowly escaped during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal.
However, his appetite for risky adventures led him back to Afghanistan in 2023, where he documented his experiences online, including encounters with Taliban members. His actions eventually led to his arrest by the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence in January 2023.
Routledge, along with three other British nationals, including UN aid worker Kevin Cornwell, was detained for several months before being released with the help of The Presidium Network, a nonprofit organization.
During his time in captivity, Routledge¡¯s social media portrayed an odd and seemingly exaggerated narrative of his life behind bars, claiming that he was treated well and lived in relative comfort.
This stood in stark contrast to the condition of fellow detainee Cornwell, whose health reportedly deteriorated during the detention. The eventual release of Routledge and the others brought much-needed relief, given concerns over their well-being under Taliban custody.
Routledge jokes about launching nuclear weapons at India
Routledge¡¯s latest controversy revolves around a series of racist and inflammatory social media posts targeting India. In a now widely criticized tweet, he joked about launching nuclear weapons at the country, saying, "When I become prime minister of England, I'll open the nuclear silos as an explicit warning to any foreign power that interferes with British interests and affairs. I'm not talking about huge incidents; I'm itching to launch and atomize entire nations over the smallest infraction."
When I become prime minister of England, I'll open the nuclear silos as an explicit warning to any foreign power that interferes with British interests and affairs.
¡ª Lord Miles (@real_lord_miles) August 20, 2024
I'm not talking huge incidents, I'm itching to launch and atomize entire nations over the smallest infraction. pic.twitter.com/UGBKYB3pku
He went further, adding, "Hell, I might just launch at India just for the sake of it!"
In response to an Indian X user who accused him of rage-baiting, Routledge stated, "Believe it or not, I just don't like India. Also, I can sense when someone is Indian. If a man online suddenly talks about [attacking] your mother in the first response, he's Indian. Many such cases." These posts have garnered millions of views on the platform X.
This isn¡¯t the first time Routledge has made such inflammatory remarks. Earlier this month, he tweeted about his wish to reincarnate as a virus to "solve the overpopulation" issue in India.
If I was reincarnated, I would like to return as a virus to contribute to humanity by solving the overpopulation in India and Africa
¡ª Lord Miles (@real_lord_miles) August 18, 2024
Routledge¡¯s social media activity also included mocking exchanges with users. In one instance, he shared a conversation with an anonymous user who threatened him with the words, "I will find you, I promise, your apology video will be sweet."
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Routledge accepted the stranger¡¯s message request and even provided his address and description via text. He then mocked the user with a sarcastic remark, "Saar okay lord saar good luck saar haha saar," clearly mimicking an Indian accent.
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Kumar Debvrat is a copyeditor at Indiatimes. He writes about trending topics in India, from human-interest stories to cricket. He has a sharp eye for detail and a passion for storytelling.
