I agree with Mr. Trump's understanding of the situation existing between India and Pakistan. Unfortunately, the leaders in DC have not understood till today the real danger emanating from Pakistan. Whenever there is a terrorist attack anywhere, the investigation leads one to a Pakistani territory. Either they had provided training or financial and diplomatic support and/or covert blessing from the Pakistani nexus of military/ISI establishment. One fails to understand the rationale that knowingly Pakistani Talibans of Haqquani group are slaughtering US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, USA is still in the process of providing Pakistan financial and military assistance. It is so ironical. When people say that Mr. Trump lacks knowledge on the foreign policy issues, this writer has a contrast view of this situation. I think he, being an international businessman, keeps himself very much apprised of worldwide situation.

Mr. Owaisi does not command any authority, following and capability to break India.  Even though he says he does not want to break India, but his statements, lectures and ideology reflect anti-India posture.  He blames the backwardness of Muslims to a lack of education which is the end result of poverty.  Is it really true?  Are all Indians born in poor families illiterate in India or should I ask that all Muslims who are very well educated and holding prestigious positions were born with a silver spoon in their mouth?  I do not think any of these versions is true.  Responsibility to educate a child rests with the parents and the government.  To provide free education facilities up to a certain standard is the responsibility and duty of a given government, and then it is up to the parent to make sure that child at least attends school and avail that opportunity.  Mr. Owaisi talks about fixing a quota of scholarships for the Muslims.  I believe he is referring to scholarships where the education is not free.  Can Mr. Owaisi confirm that all the Muslim children in his constituency have at least got the minimum free education? If not, what steps has he taken to make sure they attend schools.  He is holding a very prestigious position in the Indian Parliament which further puts burden on his shoulders to work with the Muslim parents, local leaders as well as with the central government to create educational facilities, if need be, instead of blaming the poverty in the society.  As far as the provision of scholarships is concerned, I do not believe in hand-outs.  Handouts make people complacent, lethargic and unproductive. Let everyone compete for financial assistance and job opportunities.  This concept of socialism is mainly responsible keeping the minorities backward.  Like everyone else in the society, let the minorities fight for better education, better opportunities and become productive member of the society.  Next time Mr. Owaisi talks about the backwardness of his fellow brothers and sisters in his constituency and blame poverty, I think, he should question himself first what has he done to better educate them.  Are you listening Mr. Owaisi?

If one reads history of Balochistan, one will find out that the occupation of Balochistan by the Pakistani government is illegal.  It was a princely state and during the tenure of British, it was up to the then prince to decide if he wanted to become part of Pakistan at the time of partition.  The prince then decided to stay as an independent nation and did not opt to be part of Pakistan.  However, against the wishes of the then prince, Pakistan attacked Balochistan and since then Balochistan is in the grips of Islamabad government.  Needless to say, Balchos have not and will not forget the ill treatment they have been experiencing in the hands of Pakistani military establishment.  According to the reports, Balochistan is blessed with all kinds of natural resources which Pakistan has been exploiting for their own benefits.  The local Balochs are deprived of sharing any of these resources.  Innocent women and children are being murdered on a daily basis and this mayhem has been going on since 1948.  People learn lessons from historical events, but Pakistan has not learn any lessons from its own history - history which gave birth to Bangladesh.  Before Bangladesh was born, West Pakistan treated the Bengalis in the then East Pakistan miserably.  Even though lots of revenues were coming from the East Pakistan, the Bengalis were not allowed to share any of the fruits of their hard work.  Most of that revenue was spent on the welfare of Panjabis and the military establishment in West Pakistan.  What happened to  East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, is a history for any one to read.  The scenario in Balochistan is the same and it is a question of time when, not if, Balochistan will part with Pakistan.  Baloch's blood is boiling and the time is very near when it is going to explode to force the government in Islamabad to cave in. Yes, Balcohs are not equipped to fight with the Pakistani military on equal footing, hence, there is an urgent need from the civilized world including the United Nations to come forward to lessen the grievance of the innocent Baloch women and children by rejecting Pakistan's illegal occupation of Balochistan.  The western nations ought to slap stringent sanctions against Pakistan and make that terrorist nation an irrelevant.

There is nothing new in Mr. Akbar's statement.  It is a stereotyped version of what his many many predecessors had said on this topic - India will give a befitting reply if Pakistan continues...etc.  Pakistan has been continuing since 1947.  Just in the last couple of months, there have been three LOC ceasefire violations.  Has Mr. Akbar forgotten them or is he just turning a blind eye on those incidents?  I understand Mr. Akbar has to follow government guidelines and cann't deviate from it.  But repeating what has been said many many times before is no solace to the innocent civilian victims residing near the border.  They are seeking a permanent solution so that they can have a peaceful life and can concentrate on their family and business matters.  Mr. Akbar is one of the experts in Kashmir matters.  He knows very well there is no way India can solve this problem through negotiations especially when both parties are adamant not to part with Kashmir.  Pakistan is not willing to discuss any other issue unless Kashmir is incorporated in the agenda.  Also, he knows that the survival and status of Pakistan's military is predicated on the Kashmir issue, and under no circumstances they would let this issue slip from their grip.  Their main motive is to let this Kashmir issue simmer as long as possible.  Therefore, what India has to do is to cut off all dialogues with Pakistan and try to make it as an irrelevant nation.  Simultaneously, RAW needs to be more aggressive in helping the opposition parties in Karachi, KP and Balochistan provinces towards achieving their independence from Pakistan.  This is the only way, short of full fledged war with Pakistan, to settle this burning Kashmir issue - stereotyped statements will not do the job.

Chinese involvement in building these tunnels in the POK area is just one of the routes which is going to be used by China when, not if, there is going to be a war between India on one side and Pakistan along with China on the other side.  The development work in the Gwadar port in the Balochistan area is in progress for the Chinese navy which is going to be another facility to be utilized for the same purpose.  True, there are economic and commercial reasons also for the Chinese to develop this port to have an easy access from the gulf and the Central Asian Region, but the utmost purpose is being the security for Pakistan and territorial expansion for China.  One should know that Pakistan has arranged a special force of thousands of military personnel to provide protection to the Chinese engineers and labor force on the Gwadar project, and Chinese language is being taught in Pakistani schools also.  Chinese are not doing it out of a sheer love for Muslims in Pakistan.  Chinese have a long term territorial ambition, and the investment Chinese are making in these different project is paving the way to fulfill that long term objective.  Yes, Prime Minister Modi highlighted these concerns to the Chinese, but one wonders if they really listened to what Indian Prime Minister stated.  I do not think so.  The long term planning of China is to encircle India and obstruct its economic development in Asia.  India needs to be proactive of Chinese chess moves and prepare itself for a dual confrontation - India against combination of Pakistan and China.

Raising a Pakistani flag in the Indian territory especially in the state of J & K seems to have become a norm and it appears that there is no objection to the local and the central governments.  Needless to say that these demonstrators are abetted, financed and supported by a nation across the border, and these funds are channeled via. separatists in the state of J & K.  However, this writer is confused and would like to know if there is any provision in the Indian Constitution or in the Constitution of J & K to declare these anti-India demonstrators as 'traitors'.  I understand that freedom of speech is one of the main ingredients in a democratic society, but unfurling a flag of another nation - a nation which has been fighting with India since 1947 - is something ought not be acceptable to any sovereign nation.  The scene of raising a Pakistani flag leaves an impression that the local government has a kind of soft corner in its heart for Pakistan.  If that is true, the burden lies on the shoulder of a central government to take notice of this anti-India act because this will eventually lead towards a security threat to the nation.  Earlier this anti-national activity is overpowered, better the nation will be.

I am glad that finally Saudi government found out the true color of the Pakistani government. Even though Saudis have been financing the exchequer of Pakistani government and helping them float for the last many decades, the pay off at the time of need from the Pakistani government was nil and full of excuses and helplessness. Saudis have been supplying free oil to the Pakistani government for many many years, and even helped saved Nawaz Sharif's life when he was imprisoned by Mr. Musharraf in1999.  All the goodwill and friendly gesture were ignored by the current government in Islamabad.  Granted Saudis had their interest to proliferate their Wahhabism style Muslim religion through madrassas in Pakistan, but when Pakistan accepted funds and goods in kind from the Saudis, the former was equally involved in the proliferation of Wahhabism. As they say, friend in need is a friend indeed.  However, in the case of Pakistan, this proverb did not come out to be true.  Hence, the Saudis are right in reconsidering their relationship with an unreliable government which just relies on the concept of taking and not giving.   Saudis are better off cutting all its economic and diplomatic ties with Pakistan and instead advance their friendly economic dealings with India.  India is a developing country and inviting lot of investments from abroad, and it is an opportune time for the Saudis to become part of this ongoing aggressive development.

Saudi Arabia is showing its sense of philanthropy towards ameliorating the worsening situation of Muslim refugees going to Europe from the troubled areas of the Middle East.  Their offer of displaying the pertro dollars towards building hundreds of mosques in Germany, if the local government permits it, is certainly a nice gesture.  However, one wonders if Saudis are really serious in doing something about the worsening situation of their Muslim brothers and sisters or do they have any long term hidden agenda.  This writer feels very sorry seeing the miserable situation in which innocent women and children have to go through.  Keeping that unfortunate pathetic situation apart for the time being, I have my own apprehension about this move of the Saudis and other Muslim countries in the Middle East.  First of all, if the Middle Eastern Sheikhs are so courteous and moved by the plight of these refugees, why did not they open their own doors, build mosques or houses to accommodate these refugees.  Or may be these Saudis have a long term religious agenda, as I stated above, to see these Muslims settle in Europe to build a voting bank for the local politicians.  One ought not to forget and overlook that Europe, including Germany, is aging and  they need labor to see their countries running.  Europe gets cheap labor and Muslims build its voting bank which down the road will help them create their own influence in the working of European governments.  It definitely serves Saudis long term objective.  The way Muslim population in Europe is increasing either by influx of refugees or through lack of birth control, time is not too far when whites in Europe will be in minority - that is what Saudi wants.  The other danger for Europe is that this influx of refugees will have a built-in Jihadi pipeline too.  Even though this gesture of accepting refugees is praiseworthy, but it is prudent to screen them properly, and also a watchful eye on their movements will be in line.

Middle East has been on fire for many many years.  Every day, hundreds of innocent lives are maimed, killed and the mayhem is beyond the comprehension of a any civilized human being.  Muslims are killing their Muslim brothers and sisters along with other minority groups living in that part of world.  Under the pretext of religion, lot of innocent lives have become victim of sectarian scuffles.  However, the unfortunate part is that the Sheikhs in the Middle East do not care to find a solution to this on going madness in the Muslim communities of these countries.  they cann't lift themselves up from politics and contorted version of their religion and try to think outside that enclosed box to find a solution to this inhumane tragedy.  'Fatwa' is a very interesting word in Islam.  But I am little confused and may be some one can help me understand the true meaning and purpose of this diktat. First of all, my discussion with some of the Muslims who profess to know more about Islam than I do, revealed that these Fatwas can only be issued by the government and not by any  Imams or Mullahs.  Is it true?  Secondly, what does it mean?  Does it mean that the person against whom this Fatwa is issued needs to be assassinated? I am not sure.  Bunch of Mullahs, Imams and other Muslim scholars in India just issued a Fatwa against the activities of ISIS in the Middle East and sent this 15 volume dossier to the United Nations for some kind of approval.  Another confusion.  What will happen to the activities of ISIS even if UN approved this dossier?  Is UN going to take any initiative to stop the barbarous acts of ISIS?
Definitely not.  UN does not have the capability, will and enforcement power to stop it.  So, even though there may have some goodness hidden in this diktat, what purpose does it serve to change the ideology of this unIslamic behavior?  In my opinion, Mullahs and Imams should not waste time issuing these diktat, instead spend rather invest time in changing the ideology of their Muslim brothers and sisters to over this madness.  The problem is not with the teachings of Islam, the crux of the problem lies with the convoluted and contorted interpretation of Koran by the Mullahs.  Therefore, the burden is on the shoulders of Mullahs in the mosques to deliver spiritual discourses while preaching Islam - spiritual which leads the audience to love, respect and treat others humanely.  ARE MULLAHS, IMAMS AND OTHER SO CALLED AUTHORITIES IN ISLAM LISTENING?

Central government of India needs a big applause for the action taken to provide shelter to the minority group of people who are Pakistani nationals and entered India before December last year.  As we all know, the minorities in Pakistan are treated as a second class citizens, being forced to convert to Islam failing which they are killed, maimed and forced to marry into the Muslim families.  There is no chance for them to educate themselves, being part of the election and judicial  system or enjoy any type of freedom of speech.  Their life in Pakistan is not better than a person in the prison for a life time.  This action is a step in the right direction to alleviate their sufferings, and with the hope that they can have a decent human life in India with a full liberty of speech, faith and freedom.  Not knowing the details of this communication granting them a stay in India even though their documents/visas have expired, this writer would like to see another friendly and humanely gesture on the part of an Indian government and that is to provide these new settlers financial support as a seed money for lodging, boarding and starting some small scale business so that they can stand on their feet and become productive members of the community along with some assistance towards education for their children.  This will have a long term political gain for the BJP and more over a long lasting good wishes for India.

Army Chief of Pakistan stated, while celebrating 50th anniversary of 1965 war with India, that the Pakistani army is capable of defending Pakistan irrespective of the scale and length of an impending war with India.  He also emphasized that there is a big difference between the Pakistani army of the past and the present.  In addition, he said that Kashmir is, as he put it, an unfinished business for the last 68 years to make it part of Pakistan.  Needless to say, these are good points, delivered diplomatically, to keep the morale of the Pakistani forces high.  But when it comes to reality which means fighting a war with another country, , one ought not to look for diplomacy and contorted statements.  One should seek factual information, especially when the opponent is more powerful in every respect - militarily, economically and its size.  When Army Chief of Pakistan made his statement, had he forgotten what happened to his country in the last four wars with India.  In one of the wars of 1971, Pakistan lost half of its territory - now Bangladesh.  I will be interested to see if Pakistan celebrates 50th anniversary of 1971 war also and how do they present the facts to its population.  Unfortunate part of Pakistani history is that it is run predicated on lies, baseless statements, misguidance and misinformation.  Giving Army Chief a benefit of doubt, may be he was boasting of Pakistan's nuclear bombs when he made above statements, knowingly that his nation cann't win a conventional war with India.  That makes sense.  However, there is a big risk involved in that statement and assumption.  Pakistan knows that India has a declared policy of not using a nuclear bomb 'first'.  But Pakistan and including this Army Chief should know that any usage of nuclear arsenal by Pakistan on India will have an unimaginable consequences.  True, Pakistan can create a very substantial damage to India by exploding nuclear bombs first, but its repercussion will be so devastating on Pakistan that it may not exists on the map.  IS PAKISTANI ARMY CHIEF READY FOR THAT?

What has happened in this rape case involving a few Indians and a Japanese girl is shocking and equally shocking is the quickness and a fair delivery of strict judgement to punish the perpetrators for a long term imprisonment.  The court's decision, needless to say, is to be admired.   I am sure it brought lot of relief to the victim and her family because that is what they looked for - a fair judgement.  All leaders and judges at other states' level ought to take a cue from the handling of this rape case to set an example that under no circumstance the criminal of such heinous rape cases will be spared irrespective of their association, affiliation and status in the society.  However, in my opinion, this case took 6 months to dispose off which is still a long time.  There needs to be special courts set up nationwide where only rape cases will be heard and disposed off within weeks, not in months and years.  One does not want to prolong the agony to the victim and his/her family awaiting the closer of such cases. 

Pakistan's history is full of lies and distortion of facts. Defese Minister of Pakistan - Mr. Asif - is just repeating the same version of Pakistan's previous annals by saying that Pakistan won 1965 war against India when the whole world, especially many Pakistani retired generals admit that India defeated Pakistan in 1965 very badly as the former did in the 1971 and the Kargil War in 1999. It is very strange that the Pakistani government does not feel shy at all by presenting distorted facts to its citizens. Agreed that a large majority of Pakistanis are not literate, and by design they have been deprived of this privilege, but there is no uproar either from the press and media either against the misrepresentation of facts. I am not sure how long the Pakistani leaders will be able to pull on with the contorted and baseless arguments, but one thing is sure that they cann't make fool of the whole world any more. The civilized society knows the historical truth and it is a matter of time Pakistan will become a very irrelevant entity on the international forum. As far as Pakistan's scuffle with India is concerned, I do not profess to be a military expert, but I can say that if and when there is another war between these two countries, it is going to be full of destruction. Since Pakistan cann't win any conventional war against India , and God forbid, if it leads to a nuclear war the consequences will be beyond description and in all eventuality Pakistan will be wiped off the map with substantial damage to India too - but India will survive.

What Mr. Baig's organization is doing is a step in the right direction to change a thought process of non-Muslims about Muslims.  However, this writer has his own apprehension and that is if this billboard campaign is really genuine or is it another ploy to gain the good will of non-Muslims about Muslims.  I am asking Mr. Baig if his organization is going to stand up openly condemning any terrorist act perpetrated by any Muslim anywhere in the world, if his organization is going to work as a true citizen and report any noticeable anti-national activity in their community to the legal authority, if his organization can confirm that Muslim mosques are not going to be the recruiting centers of future martyrs and the audience is not going to be brain washed with the concept of jihad and infidel.  Can he and his organization do it?  Religious places ought to deliver sermons only and only on the topic of spirituality which teaches the audience how to be peaceful, love each other and respect each other and not to hate and kill each other.  Unfortunately, most of the so called Imams and mullahs in the mosques are not spiritually literate.  They deliver discourses either predicated on their own distorted understanding of Koran or as they are guided by their financiers to proliferate their philosophy of Islam.  In both cases, it is harmful and does not serve the humanity the way it should.  Hence, the whole world is a victim of this convoluted and contorted version of Islam.  What is happening in the Middle East, especially the activities of ISIS, is a shameful live example of Muslims.  What is Mr. Baig's response to it and what his organization is doing to stop this inhumane activity, other than just pasting and displaying billboard signs.

I am not sure how far this check from the Muslim community of Gorakhpur for 11,111 rupees will go to take care of the grievances of Gita Press striking employees, but certainly it is a gesture to be praised.  This is a type of ideology needed this day when there is lot of ill-will spreading between Hindus and Muslim communities.  All Muslims and Hindus ought to take a cue from this incident.  Because this is the only way to root out the basic cause of friction from the communities - helping, loving and respecting each other.  Yes, it is an uphill battle to change the mentality of brain washed people ( both Hindus and Muslims), but the gesture cited above is a step in the right direction to achieve this objective.  Also, what is needed to accomplish this goal is a demonstration of an outright condemnation whenever there is any act perpetrated by any brain washed group of people to damage the relationship of these two communities. This demonstration ought to follow right away from the moderate communities of both religions.  Therefore, the onus is on the moderate leaders of both the communities.  It is a historical fact that irrespective of the fact whether a fight is between family members, at a state level, national level or even between two countries,fighting with each other does not solve any problem.  It just brings destruction and more destruction.  Do we want to pursue a path which leads to destruction?