"Asha ji's voice will continue to echo across film screens and in the hearts of millions" - obit to celebrated singer from Sharmila Tagore

"The passing of Asha Bhosle fills my heart with a profound sense of loss. 

For more than seven decades, she enriched Indian cinema with her extraordinary voice, bringing depth, emotion, and joy to countless songs, including many that were filmed on me. 

Asha ji’s contribution to film music is immeasurable," pens noted actress Sharmila Tagore. 

Sharmila ji also wrote:

"She did not simply sing; she infused every note with such feeling that the songs became an inseparable part of the stories. 

She explored every facet of music from the classical depths to the bold experiments in rhythm and expression. Her compositions have been a constant companion in my life, and today I mourn not only a legendary artiste but a wonderful person and neighbour whose warmth I will always cherish.

"I first felt this warmth during the making of Kashmir Ki Kali in 1963. We were shooting on the pristine Dal Lake in Srinagar. 

The song ‘Deewana Hua Badal’ was being filmed. 

It was my first experience of lip-syncing in a Hindi film song, and I was both excited and a little nervous. 

After I completed the shot, Asha ji, who was present at the location, embraced me and warmly praised my performance. 

That spontaneous, generous gesture from a renowned senior artiste meant a great deal to a young actor still finding her place in the film industry. Her encouragement stayed with me throughout my career and remains a cherished memory even today.

In Bombay, we were neighbours for many years. 

I lived in a flat at Rashmi on Carmichael Road, while Asha ji lived in Prabha Kunj on Pedder Road. That proximity allowed us to share an affectionate, easy relationship beyond the glare of studios and recordings. We would exchange pleasantries, occasionally chat about the demands of our respective worlds, and draw comfort from knowing that the other was just around the corner.

Asha ji’s voice brought an unmatched range to cinema. 

She could move effortlessly from playful folk rhythms to sophisticated cabaret numbers, and from tender romantic duets to high-energy youthful tracks. 

In my film An Evening in Paris, the song ‘Raat Ke Humsafar’, her voice captured the gentle magic of moonlit companionship and quiet desire. 

Then there was ‘Zuby Zuby Jalembo’ from the same film. Even for its time, the track stood out distinctly with its lively beat and fresh, energetic spirit. 

It brought a modern, youthful exuberance that added a special sparkle to the narrative and captured the zeitgeist of that time with its distinctive rhythm and playful charm.

Asha ji had a generous heart. Whenever I received an award, a message or a call from her would arrive promptly, filled with sincere congratulations. 

She celebrated the successes of her colleagues with genuine warmth. One occasion that remains particularly special for me was the evening in Toronto in 2011, when we both received awards at the IIFA ceremony. Sharing that stage with her, being honoured side by side for our contributions to Indian cinema, was a fulfilling moment of our journey that had begun decades earlier on the waters of Dal Lake.

What always surprised and delighted me was Asha ji’s ability to remain relevant across generations. Even recently, she continued to perform with the same vitality. I was particularly thrilled when she released her first pop song, ‘Jaanam Samjha Karo’, in the 1990s. 

Listening to that pop hit rendered with such freshness and energy by an artiste of her age reminded me of her incredible ability to reinvent herself. Asha ji spoke to every generation with undiminished relevance.

Her curiosity could never be contained within the boundaries of Indian cinema alone. Asha ji’s international collaborations demonstrated her boundless creative spirit. She performed with global artists, explored new musical horizons, and brought Indian melodies to audiences far beyond our shores. These ventures reflected her openness to the world and her refusal to be limited by any single tradition.

With her departure, Indian cinema has lost one of its most luminous figures. Yet her voice will continue to echo across film screens and in the hearts of millions who grew up listening to her songs. 

I can only imagine that the heavens will receive her with beautiful melodies composed from the timeless tracks she gifted to the world. 

To me, she was a kind neighbour, the encouraging senior, the voice that made my films sing. 

Thank you, Asha ji, for the hug on Dal Lake, for always remembering to send encouraging texts, for the shared stage in Toronto, and for the unforgettable voice, which conveyed vulnerability, seduction, and pure longing. 

Asha Bhosle was a rare gift. 

Her songs will forever resonate in our hearts.

(Sharmila Tagore is famous actress. Her obit came in 'The Indian Express', April 12, 2026) 

ends 

Some essential readings :::: Men who discovered India came as amateurs, but returned as scholars ---- ::: "Two hundred years ago, India was seen as a place with little history"

"The nineteenth century was the age of enquiry. It was perhaps inevitable that India should have its Darwin, its Livingstone and Schliemann....

The men who discovered India came as amateurs, by profession they were soldiers and administrators. But they returned home as giants of scholarship."  

- This is from book 'India Discovered: The Recovery of a Lost Civilization' penned by John Keay. 

Every book has a history, nothing unusual about it!

Some more essential readings ... although 'reading' is now a 'vanishing art'. 

There is another example. 

"For all the excitement and the very considerable achievements, Indian history is still far from complete...

It is devoid of almost everything that traditionally makes history palatable for the general readers."

Well, the book is truly an absolute joy to read even as one may disagree at times. 

The author also paints a rather rosy picture about the British Empire and the book will fail those who expect the story of India’s plunder by the Britishers and the Muslim rulers.

Another book, I would recommend is 'The Sewing Circles of Herat: A Personal Voyage Through Afghanistan' written by Christina Lamb. 

A celebrated writer Lamb also has penned serious page turners like 'Farewell Kabul: From Afghanistan To A More Dangerous World'.

The book 'The Sewing Circles of Herat' throws light on the life and times of Talibs in a pretty interesting manner.

Refer to this example - "Oh my God, he is a Talib...and that meant he's sissy or he is available".

There is another oneliner - "The inevitable result is sodomy. It's the done thing in Pashtun society because of women being shut away in houses. A good looking boy would have dozens of attempts made on him".

There is also more! 

"....King Zahir Shah (of Afghanistan) gazed into the distance with the terrible sadness of a man who clearly bears the weight of his conscience of one million of his countrymen dead, another one and a half million disabled".

Christina Lamb has also authored 

'House of Stone: The True Story of a Family Divided in War-Torn Zimbabwe' and captures not just the source of a conflict, but also highlights her conviction that there is still hope for one of Africa’s most beautiful countries.

I would also recommend John Redwood's 'The Death of Britain?'

The book published way back in 1999 - much before the Brexit issues had rocked the country raises few vital questions: Can the United Kingdom survive devolution, European integration, reform of the Lords, slimming of the monarchy, proportional representation?

John was an Oxfordshire County Councillor and in the 1980s he was Chief Policy Advisor to Margaret Thatcher. 

It is said that he urged her to begin a great privatisation programme, and then took privatisation around the world as one of its first advocates!

The book also talks how Scotland could perhaps shatter the Union by demanding full independence.

Some excerpts would make you fall in love with the book. - 

There is nothing wrong with reversing the past. It may be politically correct now to bemoan those who do as fuddy-duddy or old-fashioned, yet that sense of continuity in British life is our greatest strength.

However, the author also says --- "The British people are slow to awaken to provocation" and one more --- The British people are not very keen on revolutions".

 

Every reading occasion should also have a history, the time set, the mindset of the readers etc etc !

'River Dog - A Journey Down the Brahmaputra is one such compendium! Penned by Mark Shand, a well known British travel writer.

RIVER DOG is a story encompassing sublime landscapes - in Assam where the River begins to broaden into its full majesty flows with mystery and legend. It goes without saying that river Brahmaputra is one of the world's great rivers.

Beginning as a tiny glacial stream in Western Tibet it flows through India and Bangladesh before gushing out into the Bay of Bengal.

Not only the book talks about the river, its glory and its history - there is a unique element as a 'Dog' also accompanies Shand and he adds to the mystique of animal lovers - animals always add a new "dimension to your travels, they take you away from yourself". I think that makes the stuff more readable!

For lovers of northeast, the author throws light on the history of Ahoms and Assam.

What does the word Assam mean?

"Establishing their capital at Sibsagar, the Ahoms named the region Assam which means undulating land" - says Shand.

Check out with Hindi experts - google says Undulating word in Hindi means 'Lahardar' !

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On sisters-rivalry, Lata and Asha had "good laugh" ::::: It was a Vintage playback singing club - Rafi, Mukesh, Lata, Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle .... all gone !! .... an era that will never return :: Did she wanted to flee to Dubai ??

Once a specialist for dance numbers; it became more a habit in Bollywood. Any major film with a song picturised on Helen, Asha Bhosle would be the voice behind it.

But adaptability, creativity, and innovation count.

They are imperative and she constantly evolved to avoid  risk of being left behind.  

Asha Bhosle expired on April 12, Sunday. 

Asha Bhosle sang the iconic song "Pyar Karne Waale Pyaar Karte Hain" in the 1980 movie Shaan. 

Composed by R.D. Burman with lyrics by Anand Bakshi, this energetic disco-style track features Parveen Babi and Amitabh Bachchan. She also sang other tracks in the film, including "Jaanu Meri Jaan". 

There came a time, she did well with Ghazals. No wonder she had been a two-time winner of the National Film Award- for magical 'Dil Cheez Kya Hai' from Umrao Jaan and 'Mera Kuch Saamaan' from Ijaazat. 

In 1984, she sang "Tu Rutha To Main Ro Doongi" for actress Neelam for the film 'Jawaani'. After a long time, a simple love story was making good in the industry. Everyone was concerned that Asha (born 1933) was then 51 and whether she could match the voice of a college going teenager. 

Neelam was born in 1969; hence Asha had to adjust to the voice of a 15-year-old damsel. And as records say that number was big hit.   

She recorded her first film song in 1943 and by the 50s, had carved a niche for herself.

Over the next three decades, she was among the most sought-after performers by most composers.

She did well with a number of regional language songs. 

In Bangla, 'Kiney de reshmi churi, noile jabo baaper baari' was a big hit from 1977 stable and it was much popular even till mid-1980s when we could understand the 'feelings' behind the number. 

In an interaction with 'Hindustan Times' in 2023, Asha spoke about the contemporary music landscape. 

“Main sach bolu toh main aaj ke gaane sunti hi nahi hoon. If I have to listen to songs, I hear (late vocalist) Bhimsen Joshi’s songs, classical songs and ghazals as I get to learn and simultaneously, polish and practice my songs better through that. Because of this, my capability of singing gets better".  

Asha Bhosle and Kishore Kumar gave a number of hit duets.

"छोड़ दो आंचल ज़माना क्या कहेगा" (Paying Guest)

"हाल कैसा है जनाब का" (Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi)

"एक मैं और एक तू" (Khel Khel Mein)

"आज रपट जाऐं तो" (Namak Halaal)

"ओ साथी चल" (Seeta Aur Geeta)

With Kishore Kumar 

In fact, together with her sister Lata Mangeshkar and fellow legends Mukesh, Mohammed Rafi, and Kishore Kumar, Asha too dominated the Hindi music scene for over half a century. 

This was truly era that will never return. 

Peddar Road Flyover - has a story of its own

In 2002 during my days with PTI, Mumbai; we had to run a controversial story related to Asha Bhosle. It was a difficult proposition for two of us - me and colleague Jacinta D'souza (both Asha fans) to file our report. 

The legendary Asha Bhosle had voiced her protests over the Pedder Road flyover project and how it disturbed public and traffic.

She (despite being a Marathi) had threatened to move out of Mumbai to "some other country.... maybe Dubai".  

That's food for thought !!

But that's beauty about life and journalism. "Bitter pills have to be swallowed... that's my subtle message," Jacinta told me softly conscious what we whisper do not reach the never-failing ears of a late deputy editor.  

Asha With R.D 

Rahul Dev Burman was music director and singer, who is considered to be one of the greatest and most successful music directors of the Hindi film music industry. 

From the 1960s to the 1990s, Burman composed musical scores for 331 films, bringing a new level of music.

RD Burman (nicknamed Pancham) did his major work with legendary singers Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi. 

The RD-Asha husband-wife team also worked extensively with lyricists like Majrooh Sultanpuri, Anand Bakshi and Gulzar.

R D was the only son of the composer Sachin Dev Burman and his lyricist wife Meera Dev. 

As is well known 

-- Be it 'Piya Tu Ab To Aa Ja' from Caravan, 

'Ye Mera Dil' from Don, 

'Dum Maaro Dum' from Hare Rama Hare Krishna ... 

Asha owned the dance number genre in Bollywood for over two decades. 

Asha Bhosle sang the devotional song "Sancha Naam Tera" in the 1975 film Julie. This song was a duet with her sister Usha Mangeshkar, composed by Rajesh Roshan with lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi. 

Asha got the surname Bhosle from her first first marriage to Ganpatrao Bhosle.  

Asha had once opened up about 'rumours' of a 'sibling rivalry' with her elder sister Lata Mangeshkar. 

She spoke about an incident over which the sisters had a 'good laugh'. 

"She’s my sister and my favourite singer. People did carry tales and try to create trouble, but blood is thicker than water. I remember, sometimes both of us would be at a function and some industry types would ignore me and interact only with her, as if to prove their loyalty. Later, didi and I would have a good laugh!” 

Asha Bhosle had started her singing career in 1943 four years before India attained independence. 

She gave over 12,000 songs across seven decades. She was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2000 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2008. 

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"Modi has the image of a hawkish but time-tested operator" ::::: Unreason fights Reason, that's 2026 :::: Trump glorified a terror-sponsor nation; Indian Sickulars led by Congress 'garlanded' Islamabad with 'peace flowers' :::: Nothing was more fallacious

 Nothing could be more fallacious than to judge Pakistan by Indian or even European standard. Donald Trump went that route.  

The hyped 'Islamabad Talks' came a cropper even as J D Vance tried his best to offer some good words of consolation to Pakistan, himself and also to Trump and the President's son-in-law. 

 

Of course Pakistan could not be blamed for April 11-12 Islamabad fiasco. But they were 'made to' try something unique beyond the size of their shoes. Only Trump as the US President could have ordered Islamabad for doing this and 'only' Pakistan could have easily agreed to do so. There was no diplomatic maneuver, no originality i n strategy thinking.

Munir and his team including PM Shehbaz Sharif did what they were asked to. Islamabad is just in a position to say no to Washington. 

On domestic front Pakistan today under a hybrid governance mechanism of military-controlled-PM led civilian government is an ugly and unedifying spectacle of misgovernance. It's economy is in shambles and it has troubles with Afghanistan, multiple insurgent groups and India. 

On April 11th even as Pakistan hosted a first US-Iran high-level meet since 1979; it was helpless and had to send a warship to Saudi. The mission will be to fight Iran and not send flowers.  

"There have been some allegations that Washington wrote that tweet for the Pakistani PM, because it had the heading, 'Draft for Pakistan PM'. And the language used was also Washington's language. Also, some of the phrases were similar to those used by Trump a few hours ago. Only Pakistan can play the kind of role it has played with Washington," says Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. 

Nevertheless, the Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi and his intellectual associate Jai-rahim could still be on a different page. Fanatical hordes disobey unambiguous injunctions !! Well, this is not being a blind Modi-bhakt. But Indian leadership and the foreign policy engine room did well to stay away from the illusive 'peace efforts' between Americans and Iranians. More so at a time when a totally unpredictable character is at the helm of the White House. 

The international must wake up. The way to fight a war-loving and gimmick star like Trump is not to try something silly as Munir and his folk were forced to do. Of course, the way to fight Trump will not be easy at this juncture. The Persian DNA has made the battlefield murkier than it was before Feb 28th.

India and his friends in the BRICS especially the big three Brazil, Russia and China should draw out the US into a more open diplomatic battle field. 

The focused approach now has to be for UN reform. 

 

Modi and Xi Jinping : Time to play a Double Wicket Partnership

Vladimir Putin : Time to strike at the US

Retribution is seductive  

Vengeance would mean another rage ... left unchecked. The wound that never heals.  The new Chemistry has to work well with the old economy and arithmetic.  

The RIC triangle offers a pathway to hedge against any potentially adverse outcomes resulting from India's partnership with the United States. 

For instance, at the RIC trilateral on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in 2019, China had proposed a 5G partnership with Russia and India in a direct challenge to US interests. 

This was a significant package in the context of the escalating trade war between the United States and China and also between India and the US.

The 'best bet' will to seek concessions from both sides. 

A greater role for the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral grouping is increasingly advocated as a means to foster a multipolar world order and enhance Eurasian strategic stability.

Though technically dormant since 2020 due to India-China border tensions,  initiatives must be taken to revive the grouping and those have to be driven by shared interests in economic sovereignty, trade route development, and non-Western financial systems. 

  

The world needs immediate peace and ceasefire between the US and Iran. These two countries also need the same. But the world will have to revisit Trump's Venezuela adventurism.  

Since 2014, the tag 'soft nation' may not do justice to PM Narendra Modi. 

There are multiple ways of judging Namo - a view from home front where players are the likes of Rahul Gandhi and Mamata Banerjee and even the RSS. The other is overseas front.

Often those diverge. Domestically Modi is hugely popular even after 12  years in office as PM and prior to that for 13 years as the Gujarat chief minister.

Modi admirers love to see his nationalism and Hindutva cards. He has the image of a hawkish but seasoned and time-tested operator.

He has also able to protect his country and people against myriad enemies. Now it's time to play a more decisive roles in international polity.  And in doing so; he should not burn fingers like the way Pakistanis have done. 

The global community is unravelling as the old borders blur.

   

ends 

Between guilt and redemption, we continue to search for space ... "boundaries we fear the most" ::: Vadh 2 - Why it stands out as "Divided by Freedom"

Vadh 2: Divided by Freedom, United by Shackles 

A haunting crime thriller that blends love, karma and caste realities into a deeply philosophical narrative.  

Vadh 2, directed by Jaspal Singh Sandhu, is not merely a finished cinematic product—it feels like raw material drawn from life itself. Like everyday existence, the film unfolds as a layered thriller where meaning is not handed to the viewer but must be discovered, questioned, and even contested.

At its core, Vadh 2 redefines a striking paradox: we are divided by freedom, yet united by shackles. The story moves beyond the mechanics of crime to explore the intersections of love, repentance, karma, and fate—elements that shape human lives far more than any legal verdict.

The film stars Neena Gupta as Manju and Sanjay Mishra as Shambhunath, two individuals bound by circumstance yet connected by something deeper. Manju, imprisoned on false charges of a double murder, delivers one of the film’s most poignant lines: 

“Apne hisaab se toh jee rahi hoon” 

(At least I am living life on my own terms).  

It is not a line of surrender—it is a declaration of agency within confinement. Ironically, the prison becomes a space where she experiences a strange form of freedom, raising an uncomfortable question: do we truly know what to do with freedom when we have it?

The narrative subtly mirrors real life. Much like Manju, many individuals—journalists, professionals, ordinary citizens—struggle with choices that freedom demands. Whether to remain independent or seek institutional security, whether to compromise or resist—these dilemmas echo throughout the film’s emotional landscape.

The plot thickens when the real culprit, a caste-conscious and deeply flawed police officer Prakash Singh (played by Kumud Mishra), lands in the same prison where Manju serves her sentence. 

His character introduces another critical layer to the story: the enduring and often toxic presence of caste. 

In one telling moment, Prakash Singh questions his driver’s caste identity before acknowledging him—a casual yet chilling reflection of social hierarchies. His prejudice escalates into violence, culminating in the murder of his own niece and her husband for crossing caste boundaries. The film does not sensationalize this brutality; instead, it presents it as a grim, lived reality.

Amid this darkness, a quiet, platonic bond develops between Manju and Shambhunath, a constable nearing retirement. 

Their relationship is tender yet restrained, built on shared loneliness and unspoken understanding. They count stars from opposite sides of prison walls, united in captivity but aware that freedom may ultimately separate them.

In one memorable scene, Shambhunath shares a bottle of alcohol with Manju on his birthday—a small act that carries immense emotional weight. Their connection challenges conventional definitions of love. It is not bound by marriage or time but exists in fleeting, meaningful moments. As Shambhunath reflects, they have already lived their share of togetherness.

Yet, Vadh 2 is not without flaws. Subplots—such as the disappearance of a local MLA’s brother from prison—lack the urgency one expects from a crime thriller. The investigative machinery appears curiously relaxed, diluting the narrative tension at key points.

Even so, the film’s strength lies in its philosophical depth rather than procedural precision. It compels viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about justice, identity, and human relationships.

In the end, Vadh 2 suggests that life itself is an unfinished script. Freedom can be unsettling, while confinement can offer clarity. 

And somewhere between love and loss, guilt and redemption, we continue to search for meaning—often discovering that the boundaries we fear the most may also be the ones that define us.

ends 

Islamabad Talks ... Balloon pricks :: Vance and his team leave :::: Opening of the Strait of Hormuz – the chokepoint ::: Iran says US made "excessive demands and unlawful requests"

"We've had a number of substantive discussions with the Iranians, that's the good news. 

The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement and I think that's bad news for Iran much more than it's bad news for the United States of America," J D Vance says

"We just could not get to a situation where the Iranians would accept our terms," he said at a press conference in Islamabad.  

A sense of disappointment gripped Islamabad and it will be shared far beyond.

Crews working to take down signs marking the historic talks in Islamabad.

The vice president also shared his appreciation for Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, and said "whatever shortcomings" there were in the negotiations, "it wasn't because of the Pakistanis, who did an amazing job"

It was a short news conference with only a few questions asked by reporters

When asked about Iran's nuclear capacity, Vance replies that halting the country from having nuclear weapons both now and in the future is US President Donald Trump's "core goal"

He adds that Trump was involved in the talks and he spoke with the president anywhere from a "half dozen" or a "dozen times" during the negotiations

"We leave here with a very simple proposal, a method of understanding that this is our final and best offer. We'll see if the Iranians accept it," he added.  

Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency cited an “informed source” saying Iran is in no hurry to negotiate.

Tehran maintains that as long as the US does not agree to a “reasonable deal”, there will be no change in situation in the strait of Hormuz.

The opening of the strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint for a fifth of the world’s oil supply – is a primary demand of the US to end the war in Iran.  

Donald Trump himself earlier hinted about failure in talks.

In remarks on the White House lawn, a few hours before Vance's press conference in Islamabad, US President Donald Trump said America wins "regardless", and that he doesn't care about the outcome of negotiations.

He told media that whether or not a deal is reached with Iran "makes no difference to me".  

Moreover, Pakistan has deployed fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, its first visible military move under a mutual defence pact between the two countries.

Hosting the hyped ceasefire talks aimed at ending weeks of regional fighting between the US, Israel and Iran did not save Munir from sparing his men and ship.

The aircraft — a mix of fighter and support jets — landed at King Abdulaziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province on Saturday, the Saudi Ministry of Defence announced.  

The pact was signed during a visit by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Riyadh in Septembr 2025, where he met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

Pakistan wanted to stay away from a military and combatant commitment as its economy is shaky. 

The deployment came under a collective defence agreement signed in September 2025, which commits each country to treat an attack on the other as an attack on itself.

The spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaeil Baqaei, has issued a statement on the status of the peace talks with the US.

In a post on social media, Baghaei describes the talks as "intensive", but says the success of ongoing negotiations "depends on the seriousness and good faith of the opposing side".

Baghaei also calls on Washington to refrain from "excessive demands and unlawful requests" and to accept Iran's "legitimate rights and interests".

Among the topics he says are being discussed, are the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear program, and "a complete end to the war in Iran".

Iran’s Unbroken Resolve ::: Trump’s Oil Gambit faces Iranian Wall ::::: Millions of Iranians stood on the bridges of their homeland in symbolic defiance

 Iran’s Unbroken Resolve: Trump Brinkmanship Meets Persian Wall

“Sometimes the fate of this kingdom hangs by a hair, but that hair does not break.” The late Iranian essayist Bastani Parizi wrote those words about his ancient civilisation centuries ago. In April 2026, they read like prophecy.

By NIRENDRA DEV

Donald Trump threatened that a 7,000-year-old civilisation would “die… never to be brought back” if it did not comply with his demands. He swiftly discovered it was not a threat he could follow through on.

As 'The Guardian' reported, Trump had to be extricated from his own ultimatum “in a rescue mission led by Pakistan and, ignominiously for him, China” — pulling back in a social media post issued just 88 minutes before his implied deadline for Iran’s destruction. The White House scrambled late into the night to find a semi-dignified justification for retreating from what had become a piece of catastrophic brinkmanship.

Trump’s Oil Gambit

Even as diplomacy convulsed, Trump took to Truth Social with characteristic bravado: 

“Massive numbers of completely empty oil tankers, some of the largest anywhere in the World, are heading, right now, to the United States to load up with the best and ‘sweetest’ oil (and gas!) anywhere in the World. 

We have more oil than the next two largest oil economies combined.”  

The post was read by many analysts as an attempt to project economic dominance at the very moment American diplomatic leverage was visibly eroding. 

Iran, meanwhile, has tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz — effectively holding global oil supply to ransom and forcing Washington to the negotiating table it publicly claimed it did not need.  

Pakistan as Mediator: “I Find That Very Strange”

The choice of Islamabad as the venue for US-Iran peace talks has drawn sharp criticism. British political commentator and writer David Vance was blunt: “The fact that Pakistan, which I consider to be a terrorist state, somehow positioned itself as a neutral arbitrator — 

I find that very strange. If they wanted a neutral arbitrator, it could have been India.”  

Vance went further: “I’m very distrustful of these talks. It’s being held in the wrong place and on the wrong principles. The Iranian machine has been smashed into a thousand pieces over the past five weeks, but now Iran is suddenly holding global oil to ransom, and the Americans want to negotiate. I don’t think they should be negotiating.”

His concern about legitimacy cuts both ways — the Islamabad talks, in his view, validate both Pakistan’s self-appointed mediator status and Iran’s continued geopolitical standing, neither of which he believes is warranted.

Vance’s  Political Minefield

Vice President JD Vance’s diplomatic mission to Islamabad is extraordinarily complex. To reach any durable agreement ending the six-week military campaign that has engulfed West Asia and roiled the global economy, he must satisfy multiple stakeholders who deeply distrust one another.

 Israel, still a US ally, remains wary of a region-wide ceasefire. European allies, who opposed the war, have been reluctant to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. And Trump’s MAGA base — many of whom oppose foreign interventions entirely — must be kept onside.

Iran, for its part, is not playing the role of the defeated. Weakened in places, yes — but millions of Iranians reportedly volunteered to stand on the bridges of their homeland in symbolic defiance, forcing a late-night White House retreat that will not be forgotten quickly.

Parizi’s hair has not broken. Not yet.

FAQ

Q: Why is Pakistan mediating US-Iran peace talks?

Pakistan positioned itself as a neutral arbitrator for the US-Iran talks held in Islamabad, though critics including British commentator David Vance have questioned this choice, arguing India would have been a more genuinely neutral mediator.

Q: What did Trump say about Iran and oil tankers?  

Trump posted on Truth Social that large empty oil tankers were heading to the US to load American oil, projecting energy dominance even as the US pursued diplomatic negotiations with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

Q: Why did Trump back down from his Iran ultimatum?

According to The Guardian, Trump retreated from his threat to destroy Iran via a social media post issued just 88 minutes before his implied deadline, after it became clear the threat could not be executed — with Pakistan and China playing key roles in defusing the situation.

Q: What is Iran’s current control over the Strait of Hormuz?

Despite sustaining military damage over the six-week West Asia conflict, Iran has maintained and tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, giving it significant leverage over global oil supply and forcing the US toward negotiations.

(courtesy - The Raisina Hills) 

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