“His reference to a US role in the India-Pakistan understanding, however, is likely to draw scrutiny in New Delhi , which has consistently and publicly rejected claims of third-party mediation in the May 2025 conflict, sparked by the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people , and has maintained that the ceasefire was reached directly between the two countries. ‘A critical anchor to hold the line’: Hegseth on India Speaking at the forum convened annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Hegseth’s framing of India’s role was the strongest the Trump administration has articulated since taking office. “In South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line,” Hegseth said. “A powerful India acting in its own self-interest advances our shared goal of maintaining a balance of power across the region.” He linked India’s role to the broader US burden-sharing demand.…