Additional tax free amount

Why the additional tax free amount was removed for super senior Citizen? I am 82 , No pension, no property only Living on interest Bank deposits. diabetic, prostate enlarged, . I need more than 5 lakhs for medicine alone. No insurance.

Muckadackal PailyMathew

"Peace talks failed due to excessive US demands !!

Trilateral peace parleys have reportedly failed in Islamabad after facing many hurdles as the whole world waited for opening of strait of Hormuz and return of durable peace?

There was total distrust during negotiations as hard bargaining continued in an atmosphere of mutual suspicion.

Let us analyse the reasons behind collapse of talks.

Lack of self-restraint

Prez Trump needed to rein in Netanyahu from attacking Iran's proxy,the Hezbollah. It was considered breach of ceasefire. Lebanon should have been covered in the peace plan agenda. It still remains a flashpoint.

The adversaries failed to refrain from issuing provocative statements amid the ongoing peace process.

Pakistan gained in status

Donald Trump praised Pakistan's role as a key mediator in establishing a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. He referred to Pakistan's Army Chief, Asim Munir, as his "favourite field marshal".

Analysts believe the shift from earlier adversarial relations to one where Pakistan was trusted as a mediator in regional conflicts is part of a transactional approach, with Pakistan cultivating trust through diplomatic lobbying and, in return, receiving recognition from the U.S

Pakistan ,no doubt, has gained in stature which has surely elevated. People wonder how a country embroiled in adversarial relations with its two  neighbours - Afghanistan and India -  entered the centre-stage  and emerged as a  bringer of peace in world politics?

India missed the bus

India unarguably felt utterly sidelined and irrelevant. Its economy will be severely hit. The adverse impact will become evident soon. Worse India failed to take the initiative by virtue of being the fourth largest economy and as current chairperson of the BRICS that has Iran as member. India still has a chance to convert Islamabad failure into an opportunity.

Hope for future

Iran says-No next round?

All things considered, let us hope, good sense finally prevails and durable peace and sanity return to the multi- polar world order. Is there a Plan B?

A K Saxena (Former civil servant)