It appears that raising Pak flag at rallies in Kashmir has become a norm. The separatists do it without any hitch and fear of local and/or central law. Is this acceptable to the local and central governments? If so, it is a shame to allow these separatists to move forward with impunity to get involved in these anti-Indian activities. In fact, this writer brands these performers as 'traitors' and ought to be punished under appropriate laws of the Indian constitution. Just arresting these separatists and putting them in posh jails does not serve any objective. They should be awarded long term jail terms without parole. IS ANYONE LISTENING?

Who is Mr. Geelani?  What is his purpose of staying in Kashmir and allowing an unfurling of Pakistani flag in the Indian territory?  Since he is not holding any wage earning position in any of the offices, who is paying for his lavish living style? As far as this writer knows, Mr. Geelani is a stooge of Pakistan and living a luxurious life on the mercy of handouts from across the border.  Hence, he is obligated to represent Pakistan's interest only to stay alive with the life style he has been used to.  Whether he represents India or Pakistan's interest, it is his personal choice.  However, he ought not to be given a choice to stay in the Indian territory while showing outright support for Pakistan - unfurling Pakistani flag and supporting overt activities of separatism.  I feel it is a treason and this person should be taken into custody without wasting too much time, and let him face a legal music.  The Central government is trying to improvise the situation in the Kashmir area, and these type of activities of separatism are foiling the main objective of resettling the Kashmiri Pandits.  Who is Mr. Geelani to say where Kashmiri Pandits should settle?  This decision lies with the local and central government and not  with an individual who has no authority and allegiance to India.  It is about time that the local and central government become proactive and put  all these guys behind bars who are propagating a sense of separatism.

As we all know, the temples in India have tonnes of gold and other ornaments donated by the Indians and currently it is just sitting in their vaults and/or basements.  By hoarding these assets, temples are not making use of these valuables.  I think it is a very good idea to deposit these valuables with the Indian government and open their accounts with the central bank equivalent to the market value of these assets.  These accounts will generate a periodical interest, and with that cash, the trustees of a respective temple can decide how to best manage the temple by creating more modern facilities for the devotees and refurbishing the temples.  Also, this additional gold and ornaments in the exchequer will help the Indian government to bargain with the foreign governments from the position of economic strength and keep these valuables in a safe custody.  It is a win-win situation.

I think the proposal to make arrangements for the Kashmiri Pandits to go back and settle in Kashmir is the right one.  It is a shame that when the Kashmiri Pandits were let go by the previous administration due to the pressure from the Muslims including the separatist leaders.  The then administration was found to be so vulnerable of this pressure that they changed the names of many streets of Kashmir and also could not save the Hindu temples from ruins.  Anyhow, they paid the price of their failure during the past election.  Now the question is not if the Kashmiri Muslims will allow the Kashmiri Pandits to come back, rather the question ought to be what the local and central government can do to expedite their returns to the land they lived on for so long.  The present Mufti government should take a cue from the previous administration's failed policies and try to work with the center to bring the Kashmiri Pandits back and if that means establishing a separate colony for them, so be it.  This is not the time to play politics, rather be a visionary.  The demand of the time is to work as a group and assist our fellow Pandits to grant their legitimate rights to settle in Kashmir.The idea is to galvanize Kashmir instead of polarizing it.  Also, the Mufti government ought to allow the non-Kashmiri businesses to establish their basis which will create lot of jobs - more jobs means more prosperity and higher revenues for the state exchequer, and also less time for the local Muslims youth to get involved into unproductive anti-national demonstrations.  The ball is in the court of local Mufti government to steer this situation in the right direction failing which they will meet the same fate in the next election what their predecessor felt.

I could not agree more what Ani has written in his letter to the King of Saudi Arabia.  He has really hit the nail on the head of the root cause of problems which the whole world is experiencing due to the Muslim ideology under Wahhabism financed and propagated by the Saudi Administration.  Ani might be hoping that the King will pay attention to his letter and rectify their Muslim ideology.  But I am very pessimistic about it.  Saudi's have been financing this ideology for number of decades by opening madrasses all over the world, and as we all now, they only teach distorted version of Koran to the children in these madrassas.  These children are the martyrs of future.  Another purpose of these madrasses is to keep the Muslim population illiterate, and the Kingdom knows that illiterate people can be subdued easily and no way they can raise their voices against the ruler/government.  So, Mr. Ani, I don't think you should hold your breath and wait that any positive action will be initiated by the Kingdom on your letter, because predicated on your suggestion, the Kingdom has to open up the society which is against their long term planning.  Before the previous King died a few months ago, I commented on one of the articles on Saudi Arabia based on similar lines what you are suggesting in your letter.  I even suggested to him in my comments that pretty soon he will be meeting his Allah, and before it happens, he ought to stop abetting, financing and propagating this 7th century Wahhabi ideology of Islam because this ideology is contributing a lot in the killing of innocent people in the whole world.  May be Allah will forgive him, but it did not happen.  So, let's not hope anything positive coming out of your letter.  So long as these Sheikhs have petro dollars, this ideological turmoil will prevail.  The only way to eradicate this ideology is to take over the oil wells all over the Middle East and put these Sheikhs back on the camel and make them nomads.

Pakistan has finally admitted openly to join hands with the Saudis to overcome Houthi's operation in Yemen.  I don't think Pakistan is doing it willingly, but has no choice to get involved into this counter operation in Yemen.  One ought not to forget that the Pakistani economy is being floated with the petro dollars coming from the Saudis.  I am sure Saudis must have told the Pakistani government to either join them or say good-bye to the financial assistance from the exchequer of Saudi Arabia.  However, as this writer envisions it, Pakistan will be a loser irrespective of what decision it makes.  Pakistan has thousands of miles of border with Iran which is a Shia dominated country and also supporting the Hourthis in Yemen. So, joining hands with the Saudis against the Houthis means working against their next door neighbor Iran.  Pakistan is already suffering from the sectarian - Suni & Shia - issues, and their involvement in Yemen will further add fuel to the fire.  Unfortunately, Pakistan has no choice in the matter.  Either they save their economy or avoid sectarian scuffles in the country.  Either way, they are the losers, and God forbid if there is any problem at the Indo-Pak border, then this problem can escalate to an unmanageable extent.  Pakistani defense forces are sprad very thin right now.  They are currently involved in attacking the Talibans, now new involvement in Yemen and with the skirmishes at the Indo-Pak border, this writer sees lot of downward trend in Pakistan.

The world is changing, the attitude of global leaders is changing so is the market trend and way the business is being conducted.  Needless to say that the overall economy has become a global economy.  No one country can survive without the help and understanding of others. It seems like history is repeating itself. Historically speaking, the once super powers are no more superpowers any more. The USA, the only known superpower right now is also on the decline for whatever reasons, inability of its leaders, politics or adverse circumstances. There was a time when every country will pay respect to the USA and did not dare to confront its wrath.  But no more.  Even small countries in size and economy do not pay any heed to what the USA stands for.  Unfortunately, it seems that USA has been alienated from rest of the world.  The turmoil in the Middle East and in other regions convinces this writer that the world is on the edge of confronting the USA on all fronts whether it is economic, political or in the area of military strength. China with its economic power is flexing its tentacles by gathering worldwide forces to set up a competitive bank - AIIB.  The purpose of this new entity will be to create a competition to the IMF and the World Bank and to decrease the influence of America in lending financial assistance to other countries.  Lot of European nations along with India have agreed to sponsor and participate in this new entity.  With the European countries' attitude of devising their own entity convinces me that they do not like to be dictated by the USA either.  If that is the case, then I think it is an appropriate time the USA to revisit its foreign policy also viz-a-viz the Terms and Conditions of NATO Agreement.  If Europe wants to go on its own way, then all American military umbrella ought to be removed right away.  US defense forces are stretched very thin right now and its withdrawal from Europe will help in cost cutting and keeping our defense forces stronger.  THIS IS SOMETHING WASHINGTON OUGHT TO PROBE AND MAKE A SERIOUS DECISION AFTER LOOKING INTO THE EYES OF OUR EUROPEAN FRIENDS.