The wave of Extremism that has been witnessed in the Muslim countries for the past some years, is largely a reaction of the atrocities perpetrated on the Muslims - by Israel in Palestine, by India in Kashmir, by Russia in Chechnya, by Philippines in Mindanao and by Serbs in Bosnia, Herzegovina and Serbia.

The worst record has been that of Israel which has always been supported by the US to the hilt financially, diplomatically and militarily. Next is India which again enjoys special patronage of the US especially in the otherwise prohibitive field of nuclear development.

After the 9/11 which itself could be described as a result of the US backing for Israel against the Arabs, the US has declared an open war on terrorism, which in reality is against Muslim extremists operating under the name of AI-Qaeda, the Taliban and some other outfits. This direct action by the US was manifested in the shape of US led invasions on Afghanistan and Iraq with a very heavy toll of lives of Muslim civilians in both the countries.

It goes to the credit of many Muslim countries that notwithstanding the opposition by their own people in many states, they joined the war on terror on the US side and have suffered a large number of casualties in the fighting. A significant example is Pakistan.

But regrettably the US, far from being obliged and appreciative of the Muslim countries who are its allies in the war on terror, is dissatisfied with them and asking them "to do more." Now in a flagrant violation of the trust these counties have reposed in the US, it has been threatening to invade their territories in the hot chase of the militants.

Nato-led forces in Afghanistan have made some direct strikes at targets inside Pakistan territory in the past inflicting heavy casualties, though in most cases they later denied the intrusion.

Now with the start of US presidential election process for the polls due next year, some of the prospective candidates are so much obsessed with Islamophobia that they are making it an election issue. Exaggerated fears of another 9/11 or even a nuclear attack with a 'dirty bomb' by extremist outfits are being expressed by some of the candidates.

It seems the American politicians are themselves turning into extremists. One of the prospective candidates has been pleading for attack by the Nato force fighting in Afghanistan on the tribal areas of Pakistan where they suspect the Islamic militants and Taliban have safe havens.

Yet another candidate has gone to the extent of threatening to launch a nuclear attack on the holy cities of Makkah and Madina to wipe out Islam's holiest places.

Nothing could be more preposterous than this kind of threat coming from a person who is aspiring to become the President of the United States. To say that the person is just an aspirant who is not likely to make it, is no consolation to the millions of Muslims around the world. After all, the persons orchestrating such ideas are politicians who do command some following among American public. It is a reflection on the extremist thinking in sections of US politics.

American politicians should at least realize that a large number of Muslim countries are their allies in the war on terror. Saudi Arabia in particular has always been a trusted ally of the US with traditional political and economic ties. It has stood with US even when Arab public opinion was overwhelmingly anti-US and pro-Soviet Union.

Makkah and Madina are in Saudi Arabia. In fact, the official title of the Saudi King is Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. If the man wants to drop nuclear bombs on these very mosques it would be like destroying the Vatican to avenge some irresponsible action of a small band of Christian fundamentalists hiding somewhere in the Andes. The threat reflects the thinking not of one crazy politician but that of a section of the American public.

For the war on terror to succeed, the US must leash its own extremists and terrorists too.

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