Pakistani government has banned 72 militant groups in Pakistan and also announced to freeze their assets along with a punishable offence to contribute any financial contribution to their charities.  They may have done it fearing retribution from the US government.  Whatever the triggering factor may be, at least it is a step in the right direction.  However, this announcement sounds incomplete because it does not spell out the punishment if these non-state actors do get involved in their usual nefarious activities which is anti-India slogans, sending their warriors across LoC etc.  Secondly, what about the crimes they have already committed against India?  Would they be punished?  Lastly, is this order permanent to stop any of the terrorist act or is it just a respite to wait for the dust to settle down - USA's pressure?

President Trump has temporarily cut off defense aid to Pakistan because his administration has finally realized a dual face Pakistan has been projected to the USA.  In spite of repeated warnings from this government and the previous US governments, Pakistan has not stopped aiding, abetting and sheltering  non-State militant actors and allowing them to operate from its territory against the US forces and others deployed in Afghanistan.It does not make sense for America to provide this aid to Pakistan which in turn Pakistan uses to have US forces killed in Afghanistan through its proxies of various non-State militant groups.  However, this temporary blockade of aid is only applicable to defense area and not to the civilian sector.  Firstly, even the cut off aid in the defense area is predicated on the behavior of Pakistani government.  It can be lifted if Pakistani government stops aiding, abetting and sheltering the militant groups operating from its territory.  Secondly, to get this aid is not the right of Pakistani government, it is the generosity of the US government to help Pakistan to defray some expenses for the wellness of Pakistan.  Demonstrating in the streets of Pakistan against the cut off of aid with the help of little children, burning flags and implied support of these demonstrations etc. shows ungratefulness, misuse of youths and illiteracy on the part of Pakistan's citizens.  It also shows that Pakistan is used to get freebies from wherever it  can get and may be is not capable of running their country without hand-outs.  Pakistan has been doing it since its birth.  How shameful?  Now, there is a new sheriff in town and Pakistan has to change its tune.  Double-faced dealing will not work.

Pakistan's so-called all-weather friend China is further flexing its tentacles into Pakistan by expanding its territorial ambitions via further development of Gwadar port for deploying its warships. Pakistan has no friends left in the world and, hence, it has no choice but to put all its eggs in one basket - China. This is neither good for Pakistan nor for India. It is bad for Pakistan in the sense that slowly and slowly China is going to occupy Pakistani territory, or should I say a territory of Balochistan occupied by Pakistan. Also, this CPEC investment is a bait which Pakistan has accepted and it will not be possible for Pakistan to repay this high interest rate loan. What it means is that Pakistan eventually has to accept subservience of China. China will dictate Pakistan what to do and what not to do. Chinese culture, language and influence will grow exponentially, and Pakistani Muslims will become second class citizens in their own country. As far as India is concerned, it is not a good news either because by developing gwadar port, China will be able to deploy its war ships closer to the Indian territory and in the event of a war, Indian forces will be more vulnerable to the Chinese attack. The only way to tackle this problem for India is to become more pro-active in helping Balochs to obtain separation from the clutches of Pakistan. Once Balochistan becomes a separate nation again, then Balochs should help India and stop Chinese intrusion and mitigate security concern of India.

Mr. Bajwa's statement is a step in the right direction to ameliorate relations with India.  It definitely proves two things, one being that they never supported this before but now they are yielding to this idea, and secondly, the military establishment of Pakistan has realized that they do not have any other choice but to work towards improving relationship with India to co-exist.  However, in my opinion, this gesture is not enough to achieve this goal.  This objective can be achieved only when they block and eliminate militant activities of the non-state actors in Pakistan, Military shows a sincere effort to stop abetting, financing and encouraging these lawless entities to attack on India through their proxy players across the border.  Actually, these non-state actors ought to be in the jail if they show any kind of anti-India demonstration.

Mr. Abdullah's comments about PoK is shameful, disgusting and disappointing.  It proves an adage 'grapes are sour'.  Three generations of his family ruled J & K and could not find a solution to the PoK riddle which shows lack of vision and governance.  Situation became bad to worse. Instead of pushing forward a genuine cause of India to claim the whole territory of J & K as part of India, his statement is encouraging the claim of an enemy country.  His three generations have been living in India and enjoying the prosperity of India, but has no shame in going against India's legitimate interest of this territorial dispute.  People of Kashmir should keep the inner anti-India sentiments of the Abdullah family in mind and show their rejection at the ballot box in the future elections.

It seems like King Salman is trying to open up Saudi society to a little bit more on moderate version of Islam and putting all the pieces in place to placate the non-Muslim communities in Saudi also.  Certainly, it is a step in the right direction to invite flow of investment from the outside world.  Saudis cannot survive for ever on the revenue generated by the sale of oil because its availability is going to be over one day.  However, this writer has his apprehension about the sincerity of Kingdom's intention and determination to really open up Saudi's society to the extent appreciated by all the non-Muslim communities.  The reason being that there is still no restriction or penalty imposed by the Saudi Government on the fanatic clerics who openly deliver  sermons to the Muslim community in Saudi Arabia.  Those sermons have a great influence to divert Muslims to participate in destructive activities by joining non-state fanatic militant groups.So, it appears that King Salman's efforts to bring Saudi society to a moderate Islam version ironical because  he is not doing anything to prohibit spreading the Wahhabism version of Islam.  If he is really serious in his efforts, he ought to restore the fundamental human rights to all people living in Saudi Arabia irrespective of their gender, race and religion along with allowing non-Muslims to visit Mecca and Madina.  Christians, Hindus, Jews and Budhists etc. allow everybody to visit their religious shrines, why cann't they visit Muslim religious shrines?

China blocked the petition in the UN to declare Mr. Azhar as an international terrorist should not surprise Indian authorities. The reason being that the non-state terrorist actors in Pakistan are supported by the Pakistani Military and ISI nexus, and also China has a very big investment of around $46 Billion in the CPEC project. China will not like to upset that investment project because in the long run it will serve China both its military and economic interests. With this investment, China is expanding its tentacle which fulfills its territorial expansion objective, and also it helps China to bring its armed forces further nearer to the Indian border. As we know, China has already sent thousands of workers and armed men in Balochistan to work and protect this CPEC project, Chinese languages are being taught in Pakistan along with Chinese small business are opening their operations in Pakistan. Hence, India ought not to expect any type of helping hand from China in this matter. However, India can and should play a counter-China game to help the rebels in the Western part of China which is seeking separation from China