Non state fanatic actors in Pakistan are trying to hijack Islam further by increasing pressure on the duly elected democratic governments to punish those who are not Sunis and especially those who are not Muslims.  If one reviews the intention of Mohammed Jinah - the founder of Pakistan - one will find that the idea of creating Pakistan was predicated on the principle of secularism - which means all people irrespective of their faith and religious practice, will have equal rights and freedom of speech.  Unfortunately, by the passing of time, that fundamental principle has been lost in the shuffle and the fundamentalism has taken over the lives of minorities in Pakistan.  It is a shame.   Unfortunately, the elected government in Islamabad - which is on a shaky grounds these days due to leaks revealed from the Panama Papers- is incapable of controlling these non state actors because the latter has the in-built blessing of the nexus of Pakistani military/ISI.  So what is the solution to control this wave of religious ( if that is the right word to use in Pakistan) fanaticism?  Since Pakistan is a nuclear nation, it is important to find a solution to control these non state actors failing which the time is not too far when those nukes can be found in the lap of these non state actors and then one does not have to talk about the aftermath of their use.  It will be a devastating scenario for the world for a long time to come.  There is a time now and now only that the civilized world wakes up and put all sorts of pressure on the Pakistani military to withdraw their support to these non state actors and dismantle their operations once and for all from the territory of Pakistan.  Needless to say, still lot of petro dollars are funneled to these non state actors by the Suni governments which ought to be stopped right away.  The ball is in the court of civilized nations to join hands and eradicate this Islamic fundamentalism from the face of this earth.

Three cheers for the radicalized Muslims in Pakistan.  Their perseverance has paid off and compelled the civilian government in Islamabad to bow in front of non-state brain washed group of militants.  This may be a good news for bunch of non-state actors, but the literate class of people in Pakistan should mourn on this issue.  This decision is not a good news for the minority groups in Pakistan either.  Their safety issue has become more important than before.  What this whole circus showed is that militants with the help of nexus of Pakistani military and ISI have been gaining grounds day by day and the time is not too far when Pakistan will adopt Sharia Law replacing the Pakistani constitution.  This writer feels that slowly and slowly Pakistan is digging its own hole to be buried.

When Mr. Jinnah opted for a separate nation called Pakistan, he had a vision to have a Muslim nation which will have a secular view which means all inhabitants irrespective of their religion will be treated equally, fairly and respectfully.  Unfortunately, with the passage of time, that vision has disappeared from Pakistan and fanaticism has replaced that good virtue of administration.  A bunch of Non state brain washed actors have taken over the country.  Unfortunately, the nexus of Pakistani military/ISI is aiding, abetting and organizing the activities of these non state actors and use them as proxies to fulfill their own objective.  The recent cases of blasphemy is just an excuse to get rid of minorities in Pakistan.  Every day, there are demonstrations on this issue, and as this article states, now the non state actors are openly demanding the implementation of Sharia Law in Pakistan.  This writer wonders if Pakistan is going to be like a country operating on the religious philosophy of what is being practiced in Saudi Arabia.  Certainly, the current wave of symptoms is pretty clear and leads one to draw that conclusion.  If that is the case, I wonder what the literate elite of Pakistan is thinking?  Is the present government in Islamabad capable of saving the country before it turns itself into a stone age?  Is the nexus of Pakistani military/ISI going to eradicate terrorism from their own territory and tie a leash around the neck of all non-state actors?  Because if neither the civilian government nor the above nexus is ready to contain these non-state actors, the day of doom for Pakistan is not too far.

As we know, Mr. Obama and Mr. Kerry are in favor of selling F-16s to Pakistan.  Mr. Kerry even stated categorically that it is critical for Pakistan to have F-16s to fight terrorism in that part of the world.  He also stated that he is concerned that ISI which is Pakistani military and secret service outfit collaborating with the terrorists.  Is he not   contradicting himself?  Secondly, Mr. Kerry ought to know that Pakistan does not need F-16s type technologically advanced fighter planes to fight with the terrorists who are equipped with rudimentary equipment - which are no match to F-16s.  So, the whole story of supplying F-16s to Pakistan seems a concocted one and has no solid footings.  In my opinion, what these out of the way gestures going to do is to tilt India more towards Russia for its needs of military equipment and the USA will lose a rich and prosperous client

These days lot of anti-India voices are being raised about Kashmir via the mouthpiece of professors and other personnel at the Jawaharlal Nehru University.  It smells like they have the support of a nation across the border which must be suppressed.  These statements are putting fuel on fire and creating an atmosphere of hate and civil commotion in Kashmir.  I am not an expert of an Indian
Constitution, but it certainly sounds like exciting people against an established government in India and may be treated as a sedition.  Government has to tackle this situation with a full resolve to suppress this type of mentality among the literate class.  I believe nipping the evil in the bud.  Yes, arresting a few brain washed students and professors will ignite this flame may be nationally, but it is worth to handle it with a heavy hand instead of gambling with this ideology of anti-nationalism.

If there is any truth to this story that Pakistani nexus of military/ISI is training the ISIS and providing them all sorts of light and heavy equipment to fight the so-called infidels - Afghan forces - one wonders if this action is counter productive to eradicating the existence of ISIS.  One thing is sure that there is a lot of confusion and contradiction in this effort.  Is it not that this nexus is helping the ISIS to flex its muscles in more territories around that part of the world?  Also, Pakistan is surviving on the cash flow from Saudis, and to help flourish ISIS is not in the interest of Saudis.  So, the question is if Saudis are going to plug the cash flow channel to Pakistan.  Secondly, the USA is trying, along with the help of other nations, to eradicate ISIS from the face of this earth.  Then, is it not the latest announcement from the White House to award Pakistan with 8 F16 counter productive and contradictory to their basic philosophy of eradicating ISIS?  Thirdly, I do not think Pakistan needs F16 to fight against the Talibans in Pakistan.  Talibans are not equipped with that kind of arsenal where Pakistani forces need to use F16.  They are trying to get F16 to use against India.  Therefore the whole idea of arming Pakistan with F16 is baseless and counter productive to a strategic relationship between India and the USA.  In my opinion, the legislative branch ought to decline this request emanating from the White House, and Saudis should also give a second thought to help Pakistan financially in the future.

Initial steps taken by the Pakistani government in this matter are very encouraging.  But the real intent will be revealed by the type of punishment accorded to the culprits.  However, this writer has his own apprehension after reading Mr. Sartaz Aziz's comment to the effect that Mr. Azhar has been arrested along with others and he will be punished if proof 'beyond doubts' are found. the word 'if' is very critical and provides lot of leeway to the Pakistani government to punish or not to punish Mr. Azhar.  Pakistani establishment has used this leeway in the past in case of Mr. Lakhvi and Mr. Sayeed who orchestrated 26/11 attack in Mumbai.  That case is still hanging in the air without any positive outcome satisfactory to the Indian government.  Pakistani government, as per press reports, has shut down the madrassaes run by JeM.  Their action raises one very important question in my mind.  When the Pakistani government knows the anti-Indian activities of this organization, why do they have to wait for some tragedy to take place fist before these madrassaes are shut down.  There are many other madrassaes run by other non-state actors in Pakistan, why does not the Pakistani government shut them down too now.  Saudi Arabia is financing these madrassaes to proliferate their version of Islam - Wahhabism, along with a cash flow for the Pakistani exchequer.  Is it the reason that Pakistani government does not want to shut down these seminaries and upset its cash-cow?  Anyhow, what ever the reason may be, Pakistan is equally responsible for helping terrorism flourish in the world because these martyrs originate from Pakistan.  In my opinion, the Indian government ought not to arrange any meetings with Pakistan unless a satisfactory punishment is accorded to the culprits involved in the Pathankot case