Obama administration seems to be very happy by signing a nuclear deal with Iran.  Not knowing the full details of this agreement, still to be signed and approved by Congress, one hopes for the best outcome.  It is always a good idea to prevent the possibilities of war anywhere in the world, especially the Middle East Region.  However, the whole world knew the gist of this impending agreement - which has 10 years delay to manufacture any nuclear bomb and resistance on the part of Iran not to let the nuclear inspectors visit the military installations etc.  One wonders if those irritants - irritants especially to Israel - have been removed.  If not, one has to see the reaction and action on the part of Israel.  Prime Minister of Israel just made a remark that Israel will defend itself unilaterally, if need be, to save Israel.  I do not know what it means, but time will tell.  If that means Israel will attack the nuclear sites of Iran with their own arsenal, we are talking of symptoms of WWIII.  How about Saudi Arabia?  I am sure they are feeling perplexed, and must be knocking at the doors of Pakistan and North Korea to buy nuclear bombs to balance the power in the region.  No doubt a wide rift between Saudis and the USA and the latter's tilt towards Iran is making Saudis very uncomfortable.  Therefore, even though some type of nuclear has been signed with Iran, it is premature to say that everything in the Middle East is honky and dory and nothing to worry about.

It is always a good idea to have friendly relations with everybody especially the neighbors.  What Russia and China are doing  is running parallel to this concept.  However, one ought  not to forget the basics of developing friendly relationship which needs a sincere willingness, determination and eagerness to achieve that goal.  India has been striving to accomplish this objective since 1947, but due to lack of sincere initiatives from Pakistan always derailed the train from the track.  What happened in Ufa, Russia sounds historical, but this writer has some apprehension.  Both Russia and China, especially China wants to see improvement of relationship between India and Pakistan to establish peace in the region.  How about improving relationship between India and China?  China has been occupying thousands and thousands of miles Indian territory since 1962 which is a major stumbling block.  This unauthorized occupation of land is an apple of discord between India and China.  This insatiated territorial ambition of China does not end here, it is still asking India to get out of Arunachal Pradesh also because China treats that territory of India as the southern part of Tibet which again is an unauthorized occupation of China.   Is China willing to go back to the pre-1962 territorial line and stop unacceptable claim on Arunachal Pradesh?  If China is really and sincerely interested in seeing peace and tranquility in the region, this is an opportune time to show some big heart gesture and go back to its original borders and resist from its ambition of territorial expansion.  If not, then I think it is a ploy to see India caving in under the pressure of China and Russia.  These are the chess games, India has to be very very careful in playing its pawns.

The relationship between India and Pakistan has become a bouncing ball which has been bouncing since 1947 without reaching at its desired acceptable position.  This ball has been bouncing from one hand to another like a hot potato no one party wants to hold for a long time.  Whenever there seems to be a little ray of hope to ameliorate relationship, something negative occurs whether in the shape of an unacceptable anti-India remarks by one of the government or military official of Pakistani establishment or some type of ceasefire violation at the LOC.  Recent verbal agreement at Ufa, Russia between Prime Ministers Sharif and Modi is a live example.  Mr. Modi accepted Mr. Sharif's invitation to visit Pakistan next year and then today Mr. Sharif's National Security Advisor, Mr. Aziz, released a statement that there will be no negotiation with India unless a core issue of J & K is incorporated in the agenda to be discussed.  This writer is very confused and trying to find out who is the boss in Pakistan.  Is it the Prime Minister of Pakistan or his National Security Advisor or the nexus of Military/ISI?  Since the number of issues involved and the ideology  and determination of resolving these issues require open mind, this writer is very pessimistic to see it happening ever at least not in the near future.  India' plea is that J & K is part and parcel of India whereas Pakistani authorities including the military establishment always claim that there will be no negotiation unless J & K issue which in their mind is the core issue becomes part of the negotiation.  Under this scenario, how can one expect to achieve what each party wants to achieve when their opinion on this issue is diametrically opposed to each other?  Am I missing something?  However, my opinion is that negotiating with Pakistan is a waste of time, energy and resources which India can rightfully divert to some other useful direction to extract more mileage than waiting for Pakistan to change its attitude.  INDIA JUST NEEDS TO SHUT ITS DOORS ON THIS TOPIC.

This is not the first time that China has stood by Pakistan even though lots of evidence were presented by India about Lakhvi's involvement.  India should never expect any action by China which is going to go against Pakistan irrespective of the topic of discussion or dispute.  One should not ignore the fact that China has lot at stake to fulfill its long term objective and that is to create a hegemonic state in that part of the world.  Some of its actions in Pakistan provide a very vivid signal towards this objective and they are; its investment in Pakistan's Balochistan port, its ongoing military involvement in the POK area, propagating teaching Chinese languages in Pakistan and investment in the Silk Road Project to name a few.  Talking to China about any topic about Pakistan is a waste of time and energy.  It is just like talking to Pakistan about solving a Kashmir issue - futile exercise.  Needless to say, China has been occupying thousands and thousands of miles Indian territory since 1962.  In addition, they are further claiming that Arunachal Pradesh as part of China.  They have already swallowed Tibet.  They are the known occupier.  No one at the international forums even talks about it.  Why not?  Shouldn't India raise this question consistently at the UN?    It is good to keep the political and diplomatic dialogues open, but India must keep in mind that China is not India's friend.  To beat China, India needs to be strong militarily and economically.  There is no other way to overcome this situation.  Indian leaders at the center have to be very vigilant and pro-active about Chinese chess moves.

It seems that raising of Pakistani and now ISIS flags has become a normal practice in Kashmir by the pro-Pakistani Muslims, and needless to say, they have the backing of separatist leaders of the state.  This activity is dangerous and is against the interest of India and needs to be nipped in the bud before it gives birth to a wound which might turn out to be non-curable cancerous.  However, this writer is very disappointed at the inept local government and to some extent at the central government also of not being able to put these anti-Indians behind bars for a longer period of time without parole.  To me, they are the traitors and ought to be treated accordingly.  I do not know the provisions of an Indian Constitution, but if it means to mend the Constitution to bring these separatists to justice, so be it.  Needless to say, Pakistan is not going to leave a Kashmir issue alone regardless how much economic sacrifice Pakistan has to make.  They want to keep this issue alive to divert local public's attention from the shortfalls and downward trends Pakistan is going through in practically every sphere.  India should not keep its hope high in this respect.  The only way to overcome this Kashmir issue is to dismantle Pakistan which means - help the Balochis and Sindis to break away from Pakistan.  KP Province is anti-Pakistan anyway.  The end result ought to be that Pakistan is left with one Province of Panjab.  India should endeavor to refresh a 1971 Bangladesh history to Islamabad.  That is the only way to do it.

I am very confused with the contents of this report.  The report lists all the shortcomings of Pakistani government's actions to eliminate terrorism from its territory, but still US government provides all the financial and military help to the Pakistani government.  It clearly states that even though the Pakistani army has been trying for a year to eliminate terrorists from one part of Pakistan, but still ignores the non-state actors who are being used as proxies against India on the LOC.  Pakistani government knows who these non-state actors are, but fail to take any stern action against them.  So, one is forced to infer the purpose of this report.  Is it just a document to satisfy the domestic audience or does it have any legs to stand.  Irrespective of its purpose, to me it appears just a piece of document which serves no purpose towards eliminating a terror menace from that part of the world.  Printing these type of ironical documents  is just a waste of time, energy and resources.  The world ought not to expect any concrete action from the Pakistani government towards eradicating terror threats till the nexus of ISI/Military is in control of foreign and domestic security affairs in the country.

What Mr. Musharraf is saying is trying to be on the side of his protectors - the army.  Even though he is no body in Pakistan. He cann't afford to go against the wishes of his protectors.  He faced a terrible defeat in his adventure in Kargil.  He knows India's strength in the conventional sense of war.  Pakistan just boasts of its nuclear power to threaten India.  This writer feels that if there is a nuclear war, yes there will be a great deal of damage in India, but Pakistan will be wiped off the map.  Pakistan should not forget this unimaginable scenario.  As far as India is concerned, I do not think Indian leaders should pay too much attention to what he says - make him irrelevant.