This article is full of ironical statements of Pakistani governmental authority.  In this article, Pakistani government admits that Mr. Saeed was involved in the 2008 attack on India.  It also admits that he is one of the militants in Pakistan, hence the blockade of registering a party supported by him along with other militants.  Also, it is a public knowledge that USA has declared Mr. Saeed's organization as a terrorist organization with a $10 Million bounty on his head.  With all these facts present, Mr. Saeed and his militant company is still surviving in Pakistan and they move around with full impunity in Pakistan.  Is it because the Pakistani government with the full support of ISI using these militants against India in Kashmir?  If that is the case, which I think is 100% true, how the action of Interior Ministry against Mr. Saeed's new party will sit with the ISI, or should I say that this restriction against the MML is just an eyewash to satisfy the international community especially the USA.  Pakistan has been making fool of the whole world with its dual face as far as terrorism is concerned.  It is not going to happen any more with the new sheriff in the Washington DC.  Pakistan has to imprison all militant groups in Pakistan by declaring their activities as illegal, stop ceasefire violations at the LoC.  Also, create a transparent evidence that Pakistan does not have any place for any sort of terrorist activities by eliminating all kinds of material, financial and directional support to the militant groups.  Instead of financing these groups, earmark those funds to educate your subjects, create better health facilities for them and extend an olive branch to India to ameliorate relationship between two countries.  These are the only ways to improve Pakistan's prestige in the eyes of an International community.  JUST PUTTING ANY INFORMAL RESTRICTIONS ON THESE MILITANT GROUPS WILL NOT SOLVE ANY ON GOING PROBLEM.  BE PROACTIVE.

This country's constitution allows people to express their opinions freely so long as they do not produce any destructive results.  Players are expressing their opinion by kneeling down at the anthem.  President Trump is also expressing his opinion about players' attitude towards the national flag and anthem.  There is no physical destructive end result.  However, in my opinion, and I am sure the President has the same idea behind, when people living and earning livelihood in this country do not respect the national flag and national anthem, they seem to relay an impression that they do not love this country.  They are just after making money without any real love and affection for this country.  That is the bottom line.  Unfortunately, liberals are making it a racial issue which is absurd.  As far as penalty is concerned, it is up to the employees and employers to follow or not to follow the terms and conditions of the contracts they have signed.  Sports authorities are just stretching this issue for no reason.  I think steelers found the best way to handle this issue - stayed in the locker room when the anthem was played.

Finally, under pressure, Pakistan is contemplating to regulate their weekly sermons in the mosques.  It is definitely a step in the right direction.  The article states that the topics of discussion will be chosen by some governmental authority, but it does not go into detail what the Mullah is supposed to say or interpret about those selected topics.  Would the interpretation or explanation of those topics  be an approved and written statement which Mullah is supposed to read or is it going to be left on his own interpretation which could be questionable.  Also, simply selecting topics of discussion is not enough to stop the radicalization of youngsters in the Friday prayer, it needs to be monitored by the presence of a governmental authority, and if possible, recording all the sermon ceremony of each Friday.  The idea is to tighten the screws to avoid radicalization of people.  Also, there needs to be a severe penalty declared if any mullah violates these guidelines.  In addition, Pakistan has to show to the world that any open jihadi propaganda will not be acceptable on its soil.

Mr. Farooq is correct in saying that the Kashmir issue is not a real estate issue, and all parties ought to find a sincere solution to the ongoing problem of 70 years in that region.Unfortunately, this 'sincerity' is missing from the mind of all politicians.They are not willing to set aside partisanship to find a true solution to the cause of suffering of all inhabitants of that region.When we talk of suffering of people in J & K, we should not be neglecting an indirect/direct affect on rest of Indians in other parts of India.Mr. Farooq, you are right while not attaching any significance to the real estate issue.However, the real cause of problem is the Articles 370 and 35A which prohibit outside investment in the Kashmir area.What is needed is to use your influence and work with the politicians locally and at the center level to repeal above cited both Articles.  This will allow investment from outside which in turn will create jobs and bring prosperity in Kashmir.

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.