I agree that Mufti's remarks about unfurling Indian flag in her state is an insult to that office which she is occupying.  While making these statements she may be trying to look good in the yes of local Muslim community, but she is tarnishing the image of her prestigious office.  She seems to be complaining all the time about a chaotic situation in that part of India, and most of the time the blame is directed on the policies of the central government.  If she is really concerned about the present day situation in her state, she ought to work with the central government to find a solution instead of criticizing them.  In the mind of this writer, the apple of discord is an Article 370 which is the main stumbling block to attract outside investment in that state.  This investment will create jobs to occupy all the youths in that state which in turn will bring prosperity.  However, Ms. Mufti's statement about an Article 370 is very crystal clear.  Under the circumstances, unless BJP has full majority in J & K, there is no chance to abrogate an Article 370 which means one ought not to expect prevalence of peace and tranquility.

The story on the revelation of disproportionate property owned by Kashmiri separatists is not new.  It was always in the notice and record of local and the central government.  Unfortunately, none of the governments ever questioned them the source of investment to buy these properties.  One wonders if this was due to politics or lack of will power to question these separatists.  Even though there was no doubt that these funds were emanating from a nation across the border to foment all sorts of problems in that region, no legal action was taken against these local miscreants.  In the yes of this writer, these separatists ought to be declared as 'traitors' and judged by the law of the land accordingly.  There are only two ways to over power a chaotic situation in that state and they are, one to stop this cash flow altogether from Pakistan and secondly, the abrogation of an Article 370.  Repeal of this Article will help attract outside investment which in turn will create employment.  Increased employment will keep all youths employed and they will not have any time to get involved in destructive activities in the streets.  However, these two steps need a by-partisan leadership at both local and center level - a leadership with a strong spine.  Are Indian politicians ready to initiate this action?

China is trying all sorts of tricks to entice Pakistan to allow the former to extend its intended economic, cultural, military as well as territorial trap.  Right now, China is throwing an economic dice in front of Pakistani government - a dice which, as this article states, Pakistan cann't refuse.  Since Pakistan, as it appears at the present time, does not have too many friends in the international arena, it has no choice but to get stuck in the Chinese trap.  Unfortunately, Pakistan does not understand the long range objective of China behind all these moves.  Project CPEC and any other incentive thrown in front of Pakistani government is only good for China.  It is not good for Pakistan, Balochistan and India.  Under this project, Pakistan will be borrowing money from China at a very higher interest rate which they may not be able to pay off and thus it will have an adverse effect on their economic condition, their currency will be devalued and their overall rating in the international forums will further deteriorate.  Since what China is suggesting in respect to construction of infrastructure in the Balochistan area, they will be doing it against the wishes ofblocal Baloch government and its people.  Obviously, they will demonstrate against it heavily because what it means is that Balochs will be deprived of all the benefits.  It will be done against their wishes.  It is not going to be good for India for the simple reason that Chinese forces will be coming more closer to the Indian border.  Also, India cann't be happy that this CPEC project will be going through the PoK territory which is part and parcel of India.  China claims that with the development of this infrastructure, it will keep the Muslim culture in tact which is a joke because if one looks at a situation of Chinese South West region where most of the Muslims live, one can conclude that Chinese do not like Muslim culture at all.  Muslims in China cann't have a beard longer than the prescribed length, they cann't give Muslim names to their kids, they are forced to eat pork, they are not allowed to fast during Ramdan times etc.  With all this mentality, how can they preserve the Muslim culture in the foreseeable development of infrastructure in the CPEC project.  This is all a hogwash, and this project only serves the purpose of China's long range objective of flexing its tentacles to encircle India.

These Muslim madrassas are not a political, social, religious and cultural problem only in India, it has become an open wound on worldwide basis.  This is a wound which is flaring very quickly and there does not seem to be any immediate cure for it.  These madrassas are popping up everywhere, and unfortunately, the governments are not paying any serious attention to stop the proliferation of these institutions.  The students attending these madrassas are not taught multi-subjects which will benefit them to earn a meaningful living down the stretch, these students are being brainwashed with all kinds of ill will towards other religions.  They are the future martyrs, and the main cause of these springing up madrassas is the petrodollar. It seems that economic interest of all nations has taken precedence over the well being and even security of people.  World leaders are more interested in signing business contracts with the Sheikhs in the Middle East than penalizing them to stop their support for these madrassas.  Instead of working with the Sheikhs to open up universities and colleges to provide better education to their subjects, world leaders are ignoring the opening up of these madrassas which are producing tomorrow's killers.  What a sad state of affair?

It is about time that Pakistan is declared a territory which provides haven to the militants.  Finally, Trump administration took an initiative to exert some pressure on Pakistan to mend the situation.However, this writer has some apprehension if just the declaration will do the trick.  Because the civilian government in Pakistan has no power as respects to controlling militants' activities.  These militants are abetted, financed and organized by the nexus of Pakistani Military and ISI establishments.  Civilian leaders dance on the tune of this nexus.  Unless this nexus is pushed hard, the militancy from Pakistan will not vanish.

I agree with the Indian government stance about Mr. Bukhari's initiative of writing a letter to the PM of Pakistan about the political situation in Kashmir.  He has certainly violated the political protocol.  He has no authority to by-pass what the Indian government is already doing about this political situation.  Secondly, Mr. Bukhari is barking at the wrong tree when seeking answer to this situation.  PM of Pakistan has no authority in this matter.  It is the nexus of Pakistan's military and ISI establishment which is creating this situation on the LoC by abetting, financing and organizing the activities of Jihadis.  Instead of asking Pakistani government to talk to the separatists to stop these destructive activities in the Kashmir valley, all Pakistan has to do is to stop financing and encouraging these separatists.  Also, on the Indian side, what the local and central governments have to do is to assemble enough support to repeal an Article 370 from the Constitution which will bring lot of outside investment thus will create lot of jobs for the youths who in turn will not have time to get involved in the destructive activities and peace will prevail.  May be Mr. Bukhari should work with the Muslim community including the Muslims in Kashmir to support deletion of this Article.

Mr. Abdullah's veiled sympathy towards the killing of innocent people by the Muslim militants is not appreciated at all by this writer.  While he is showing this so-called innocent sympathy, he is inciting Muslims also to fight against the local and central governments.  He is not condemning the separatists in that state, nor does he say anything about the support coming from Pakistan which is creating all this chaos. His family's three generations had ruled the state, what did he do to eliminate this Muslim militancy from the state?  What is the purpose of showing these crocodile tears and pretending to lose sleep when this type of tragedy occurs?  If he is really hurt, he should sit with the local and central government and, keeping aside party politics, find ways to solve this problem.  In my opinion, the problem is not religion, it is an economic issue.  These youngsters do not have jobs, they have all the time to demonstrate against the government forces and destroy public property.  If meaningful jobs are created for them, these demonstrations and destruction of property will stop and there will be peace in the region.  Jobs can be created only by repealing an Article 370 which will help bring outside investment in the valley. That is where, Mr. Abdullah and company can play a major role, get the constitution amended,have this Article deleted, create jobs for the youngsters.  This is the only way to improve the present situation failing which there is no way to change the status quo.

The situation in the Middle East has been deteriorating as the time passes.  The recent turmoil and conflict among the Arabian nations is not helping the situation a bit, rather it is leading the nations in that part of world towards further conflagration.  However, one wonders why all of a sudden this rift has surfaced among these Arabian countries.  Is it only because of Qatar helps the ISIS and other militant Muslim groups or something else?  If that is the reason, then Saudi Arabia has to shoulder the same burden because they are equally responsible and liable for all fatalities being committed by the militants in the name of Allah.  In my opinion, the deep pockets full of petrodollars of all the Arabian nations is the cause of all Muslim terrorist activities.  Their contribution to establish Madrassas all over the world is sowing the seeds of today's and tomorrow's suicide bombers.  So, all need to be condemned by the western nations.  This writer thinks that the cause of this sudden explosive situation among the Arabian countries is political which mainly lies between Saudi Arabia and Iran.Both countries are trying to have their hegemony established in the Middle East and in order to achieve this objective, they have created this block of powers - Saudi, Bahrain, Egypt and UAE on one side and Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Syria on the other- so to speak.  Unfortunately, the western nations are not paying any attention to condemn all the Arabian nations openly for spreading jihadi ideology, rather the former are after the latter's  petrodollars to book their merchandise orders.  Hence, it boils down to economics only.  Every head of the nation wants to look good in the eyes of his/her own subjects.  The priorities are misplaced.

Mr. Engineer is supporting the idea of plebicite as well as approving the activities of separatists in the state of J & K even though Mr. Salahuddin himself has admitted that he was responsible in orchestrating lot of anti activities in that state. Mr. Engineering, through his anti-India statement in the local Parliament, has made it very clear that he is a puppet of a nation across the border along with the Abdullah family which ruled that state for decades - among three Abdullah generations- without any frutiful positive result for the Kashmir issue. These separatists live in India, eat Indian food, but they are faithful to the nation which carries animus and malevolent attitudes towards India. These people ought to be treated as traitors and handled by the law of the land accordingly. Secondly, as this writer sees it, the basic problem in the state of J &K is the existence of an Article 370. This Article prohibits outside investment in that state which is a big stumbling block in the prosperity and peace in that part of India. The central and state governments should work together, keeping any party politics aside, to repeal this Article and attract outside investment in that state to bring some manufacturing and other financial services jobs. Once the economic condition improves, it will keep the youngsters busy with their work and have very less or no time to get involved in destructive activities. Right now, youths do not have much to lose and they become an easy prey to be recurited by the separatists to act in anti-Indian activities. Once peace prevails at the local end, India can free some of the military forces from that region and deploy them in some other areas - like with the Chinese border. Therefore, it is about time to exert all efforts to repeal an Article 370.