Donald Trump’s Middle East legacy is less about diplomacy and more about deal-making—it is geopolitics recast in the language of business (‘The art of the deal’, October 26). [Jared] Kushner’s shuttle diplomacy turned peace into a branding exercise, where photo-ops and handshakes mattered more than hard compromises.
The Trump family’s real estate footprint in the Middle East has added a layer of intrigue, blurring the line between foreign policy and personal enterprise. In this new order, apologies are scripted, alliances are transactional and peace is not a pursuit but a performance.
Avinashiappan Myilsami,
On email.
Trump continues to make a spectacle of himself. The Gaza truce is anything but lasting—it is a fragile pause between Israel and Hamas that could collapse at any moment. Nothing that this man [Trump] “secures” is built to endure. Nations are holding back not out of respect, but because he [Trump] happens to be the president of the US. A terror-free Gaza is easier proclaimed than achieved.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel are staying silent largely because they depend on the US support.
And let’s not forget that amid all the talk of peace, the US even bombed Iran. What a bizarre world!
Parul Tyagi,
On email.
A real estate dealer—that is what Trump essentially is. With his family’s real estate ventures spread across the Middle East, his self-styled role as a peacemaker in the region looks more like business strategy than statesmanship. His long record of prejudice against Muslims and the Muslim world is well known.
Trump is merely wielding the tools and prestige that come with the US presidency to serve his own ends. But, come 2028, Trump may no longer be the force he imagines himself to be.
Gaurav Malhotra,
On email.
Every world leader seems to be avoiding Trump, thanks to his unpredictability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to meet Trump at the ASEAN Summit, but skipped it at the last moment. Modi likely sensed that a joint press conference could turn awkward, with Trump possibly invoking the Pakistan angle and boasting about having “brought peace” between the two countries. Knowing Modi’s temperament, he wouldn’t take such remarks lightly, and the exchange could easily escalate into a showdown. Given Trump’s flair for theatrics, one can’t even rule out Trump inviting a senior Pakistani leader to the summit just to surprise Modi—an act that might well prompt Modi to walk out.
Vinod Sahadevan,
On email.
Urge Taliban to empower women
It is heartbreaking to witness the plight of women in Afghanistan. I agree with Mahbouba Seraj that India must engage with a broader range of Afghan voices—not just the Taliban (‘India must engage with more Afghan voices, not just the Taliban, October 26).
Women in Afghanistan need to be empowered to speak for themselves, and India should never support a regime that silences them. Issuing edicts that restrict women’s rights and freedom is unacceptable. India must make it clear that its support for Afghanistan will depend on how the country treats its women—with dignity, equality and respect.
Gauri Bajaj,
On email.
India is well aware of the recalcitrant nature of the Taliban. With nearly all her neighbours facing chaotic turmoil, the erratic behaviour of the US president in supporting a rogue Pakistan, and China’s totalitarian bonhomie with any nation that serves its interests, India must remain extra vigilant about the moves of Afghanistan’s present rulers.
At the same time, India should ensure that neither the US nor China exerts dominance over Kabul, whose real agenda appears to be exploiting the country’s vast natural resources rather than fostering regional peace.
Rajiv Magal,
On email.
Astrology shapes lifestyle
It is heartening and fascinating to learn that the Mughals deeply believed in and followed the path of astrology (‘Faithful Aurangzeb relied on many astrologers’, October 26). Astrology is a profound science that requires great skill and knowledge. People often consult astrologers for important occasions such as marriage or to determine auspicious dates for significant events. We trust their advice and act accordingly. As a blend of art and science, astrology helps shape one’s lifestyle and decisions, often guided by family traditions.
Raghavan Rajagopal,
On email.
Absorbing, informative and refreshing
I convey my deepest admiration and appreciation to Dr Mazda Turel for his column ‘The Pia Mater’ (October 26). Medical writing has rarely been so absorbing, infor-mative and refreshing—a fine blend of science and exquisite literature.
Mala Sridhara,
On email.
Dr Turel is marvellous in his exquisite use of metaphors and analogies to describe the pia mater. The finesse with which he employs language to portray anatomy makes his columns a sheer delight.
His writing style evokes memories of Boyd’s Textbook of Pathology, a classic that medical students cherished in the 1950s and 1960s.
K. Ramnarayan,
On email.
While reading Dr Turel’s column, I often feel as though I am right there with him in the operation theatre, watching him perform surgery with his nimble fingers—especially when he works on the human brain. Though I have no knowledge of medical procedures, by the time I finish his column, I feel almost like a half-surgeon myself.
Tharcius S. Fernando,
On email.