13-yr-old Yasser’s win in Uzbekistan Boxing Championship sharpens spotlight on J&K’s Khelo India Centres

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Saturday (May 30, 2026) credited President Donald Trump with helping broker peace between India and Pakistan, while describing New Delhi as a key partner in Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy.Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Mr. Hegseth referred to the understanding reached between India and Pakistan after their military confrontation last year and praised Mr. Trump's role in easing tensions. "You saw that in the ability of the president to come together on brokering a peace between India and Pakistan, two nuclear capable countries," Mr. Hegseth said.Mr. Trump has repeatedly claimed that he helped secure peace between India and Pakistan following a four-day military conflict last year triggered by the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people. India, however, has consistently maintained that the understanding was reached directly between the two countries and has rejected claims of third-party mediation.The U.S. secretary on Saturday (May 30, 2026) said both India and Pakistan would continue to view each other through the prism of security concerns.ICBM threats“I think both sides there are going to see understandable threats coming from the other, maybe some of which we see differently, and countries are going to want to develop ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) threats, but we are not pointing a finger, at least from our view right now, at either country and calling them a threat to us,” he said.Mr. Hegseth also praised both countries for what he described as their contributions to international stability. “We are grateful for, you know, in each of their lanes, the benefits they have given to peace around the world,” he said.Mr. Hegseth, in his address, referred to Pakistan's military and political leadership while discussing regional developments.“I mentioned India here, but I very easily could have mentioned Pakistan and the role that the field marshal and the prime minister are playing in peace negotiations,” he said. “I think an unexpected development and a true friendship developing there, which I think is important.”Main mediator for West Asia conflictPakistan has emerged as the main mediator in the ongoing West Asia conflict, trying to negotiate a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran. Several analysts say Pakistan enjoys the trust of both Washington DC and Tehran.Top officials from both sides met in Islamabad last month for peace talks, but they failed to clinch a deal. Earlier this week, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that he hopes to host the next round of peace talks very soon.Mr. Hegseth, during his address to a delegation at the Singapore summit, also highlighted India’s growing military and industrial capabilities, describing the country as an increasingly important security partner in the Indo-Pacific.He said India was modernising its armed forces and helping maintain a balance of power, particularly in the Indian Ocean region, as he noted that India was building industrial and logistics capacity to sustain high-end military operations. “We have also committed to pursuing co-production with India to advance capabilities,” he said.Indo-Pacific strategyMr. Hegseth's remarks on India came as he outlined Washington's broader Indo-Pacific strategy, which he said was aimed at preserving regional stability while ensuring that no single power could dominate the region.“What we seek ... is a genuinely stable equilibrium that works for Americans as well as for our allies,” he said. “A favourable, but durable, balance of power in which no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question.”He stressed that the Indo-Pacific remained central to US security and prosperity and sought to reassure regional partners that Washington remained committed to the region despite security challenges elsewhere, including in West Asia.The U.S. secretary also renewed

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Jammu and Kashmir’s young boxer Mohammad Yasser, who won a gold medal at the Asia U-15 Boxing Championship in Uzbekistan on May 16, has put a tight spotlight on the Khelo India Centres in the Union Territory (UT).Yaseer, 13, was a trainee at the Khelo India Centre in Rajouri. This month, Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Minister Omar Abdullah showered praise on the young boy after he defeated boxers from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Iran before overcoming host nation Uzbekistan by 4-1 in the final to clinch the gold medal in the 58-kg category. Mr. Abdullah said his success on the international stage reflected the immense sporting talent emerging from the region.Over 100 Khelo India Centres set up across J&K are emerging as a game-changer in the UT. Buoyed by grassroots infrastructure and floodlit playfields, it has attracted talent from otherwise remote villages in J&K.“The J&K Government is committed towards strengthening the sports ecosystem in the UT. Athletes are being provided with better opportunities, infrastructure, and exposure to excel at national and international platforms,” said Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services and Sports.According to official figures, 100 Khelo India Centres, the highest in the country, were sanctioned for J&K since 2021. Officials said far-off districts for the first time were put under the spotlight of sports infra like Kupwara, Bandipora, Baramulla, Shopian, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Anantnag, Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Ramban districts.Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh now have 22 Indoor Sports Stadiums along with synthetic turfs and floodlit grounds where sporting activities continue late into the evening. Nearly 3,300 youngsters attend free daily training sessions at these centres with access to coaching, sports kits and modern equipment, officials said.Athletes from J&K are now representing India internationally in Boxing, Wushu, Taekwondo, Pencak Silat, and Korfball. Rashid Shafi won Gold at the Nordic International Wushu Championship in Sudan, while several others have competed internationally in Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Abu Dhabi and China, they added.“The impact has extended beyond sports. With floodlit grounds, vulnerable and previously neglected areas are now hosting football, volleyball, and cricket matches late into the evening. Such events are taking place in spaces once associated with stone pelting and anti-social activities,” said another senior official.So far, J&K has secured 119 gold, 124 silver and 148 bronze medals at national competitions, while over 1,265 athletes have participated at the national level. Published - May 23, 2026 10:20 am IST

13-yr-old Yasser’s win in Uzbekistan Boxing Championship sharpens spotlight on J&K’s Khelo India Centres

U.S. War Secretary Hegseth backs Trump’s India-Pak ceasefire claim; outlines Indo-Pacific strategy

U.S. War Secretary Hegseth backs Trump’s India-Pak ceasefire claim; outlines Indo-Pacific strategy

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