During the 1990's a similar and even more threatening course of action is being taken by another country operating at the edges of international law - Pakistan. Pakistan has repeatedly using covert and overt incitement, as well as support of separatism, insurgency and terrorism in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. After its failures during the 1948 and 1965 wars to bring the Kashmir region to a boiling point, it used the threat of its newly acquired nuclear capability in 1990 to sustain its extensive support of terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism in the region (The Times, May 29, 1998). Under the threat of nuclear weapons and the covering fire of Pakistani Army, Islamic infiltrators have been freely entering Kashmir valley and have helped spread and incite an Islamic insurgency that continues today. During the past decade, this insurgency in Kashmir has been led by terrorists and mercenaries operating from dozens of none-too-secret terrorist training camps in Pakistani territory. The nuclear threats by Pakistani officials, with inflammatory statements such as "we can wipe out all Indian cities in 15 minutes" continue unabated (Hindustan Times, Nov. 28, 1998).

 Pakistani involvement in converting Afghanistan into the single most strident Islamic nation is well established. Pakistan itself is steadily moving towards a Taliban-style society. There is also growing recognition that Pakistanis played a significant role in the recent Mazar-e-Sharif massacre of between 2,000 and 5,000 civilians (Washington Post, Nov. 28, 1998). Residents of Jammu and Kashmir have also been subjected to a similar fate. Between 20,000 and 30,000 civilians - Muslims, Hindus including the Kashmiri Pandits, and others have been slaughtered since 1990 by Pakistan-supported terrorists and mercenaries. It is now up to the international community to prevent Pakistan from becoming another Iraq. Concerned nations need to step forward and ask Pakistan to end its continued incitement and support of Islamic fundamentalism and international terrorism, and to act as a responsible nation by not using nuclear threats to settle its disputes with neighbors. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's upcoming meeting with President Clinton in Washington would be an opportunity for the United States to help deter Pakistan from "playing with fire" in Kashmir and elsewhere.