"Nawaz Sharif is trying to take Pakistan in the right direction. I do not know for sure, but it seems like that if it was just him they would get rid of the big disease terrorism. They would really like to develop like India. But ISI and military does not let him do it," said Shalabh 'Shalli' Kumar, founder of the Republican Hindu Coalition.
Now spending time in both India and the US, Kumar said the ISI's and Pakistan Army's support to terrorism and opposition to India is not because of any ideological philosophy but because of the financial benefits coming to their top officials through such an approach.
The Congressional passage of the bill, HR 1449, the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Act of 2017, "will actually help the Pakistani people and Prime Minister Sharif," he said, adding that it would result in a lot more pressure on the ISI and the powerful military to react positively.
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Trump already had a major effect on Pakistan's policy, when they arrested JuD chief Hafeez Saeed.
"So, in a way it is good. Let's strengthen the hand of Prime Minister Sharif. If terrorist activities gets rooted out, world becomes safer. India and Pakistan will have a better relationship. That would be a great situation," he said.
As the Trump administration completed 50 days in office, Kumar said India-US relationship is moving smoothly in a positive direction and their ties are now headed for a great relationship.
He praised Trump for mentioning Kansas shooting in his joint address to the US Congress and the condemnation coming from the Trump administration.
At the same time, he acknowledged that there is a general sense of anxiety among Indian-Americans in the aftermath of a series of attacks against them in recent weeks.
"It is essentially the work of some greedy people, opportunistic people and planted left-wing media and Democrats. It is a combination of all these who have created this sense of anxiety and concerns among the Indian-American community," he added.